Objective To compare the serum levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1,bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA with interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).Methods Twenty-eight RA-ILD patients,32 patients with RA but without ILD and 20 normal controls were enrolled.The RA-ILD group was further divided into early group and late group.All the observed subjects were analyzed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of serum TGF-β1 and BMP-4 levels.The relationship between the serum levels of TGF-β1,BMP-4 and laboratory examinations were investigated.Comparisions between groups were tested by one-way ANOVA analysis and ttest.Correlation of indexs were observed by Spearman method.Results Patients in the RA-ILD group were older than RA group in disease onset age,in addition,patients with ILD had better joint function and higher serum rheumatoid factor titers.The occurrence time of interstitial lung disease was 2-6 years after the onset of arthritis,with an average time of (3.0±1.2) years.The TGF-β1 levels in the RA-ILD group were slightly higher,but not statistically significant than other groups (P＞0.05).The TGF-β1 serum levels in the early RA-ILD patients were significantly increased than those of the late RA-ILD group and the RA group.BMP-4 levels in patients with RA-ILD group were less than RA without ILD group and healthy control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).BMP-4 level in early RA-ILD group was significantly decreased than those of the late RA-ILD group and RA group.No correlation between the serum BMP-4,TGF-β1 level (P＞0.05) no assay result correlated with laboratory parameters including ESR,CRP,RF and anti-CCP antibodies (P＞0.05).Conclusion TGF-β1 serum levels are increased and BMP-4 levels are decreased in early RA-ILD patients.The serum levels of TGF-β1 and BMP-4 may be indicatior for asymptomatic ILD and reflect disease progression.

BACKGROUND:The development of keloid is a progress of fibrosis in wound healing, and involves various fibrosis-related cytokines. Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), Gremlin and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) play an important role in fibrosis of many organs, but their role in keloid tissue has rarely been reported.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of BMP7, Gremlin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and HMGB1 in the development of keloid.
METHODS:The protein levels and distribution of BMP7, Gremlin, VEGF and HMGB1 in 20 cases of keloid and 20 cases of normal skin were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, respectively. And the correlations among expression levels of BMP7, Gremlin, VEGF and HMGB1 in keloid were analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In keloid tissue, the expression levels of Gremlin, VEGF and HMGB1 were significantly higher than that in normal skin (P<0.01), while the expression levels of BMP7 were significantly lower (P<0.01). The levels of Gremlin were negatively correlated with the levels of BMP7 (r=-0.539, P<0.05). And the levels of VEGF were positively correlated with the levels of HMGB1 (r=0.56, P<0.05). The overexpression of Gremlin and decreased expression of BMP7, as wel as the increased expression of HMGB1 and VEGF, may contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis in the development of keloid.

AIM:To bring forward a method of determining aflatoxin G_2、G_1、B_2、B_1 in six kinds of traditional Chinese drugs by HPLC.METHODS:After being extracted by 70% methanol,purified by immunoaffinity column,aflatoxins were analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection.RESULTS:Aflatoxin G_2、B_2 showed a good linear relationship at a range of 1.5-60pg,and Aflatoxin G_1、B_1 at a range of 5-200 pg,r＞0.999 9.The recovery was between 60%-120%.CONCLUSION:The method is simple,accurate and can be used to determine aflatoxin G_2、G_1、B_2、B_1 in Naoliqing Pill,Renshen Yangrong Pill,Rensen Jiapi Pill,Sanqi Tablet,Jinshuibao Capsule and Bailine Capsule.

Objective To observe the effects of preconditioning with pioglitazone on infarct size and mito-chondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel in rats with ischemia-repedusion, and to explore its possible mecha-nism. Method The whole experiment was divided into experiment Ⅰ and Ⅱ. In experiment Ⅰ, 24 rats were ran-domly divided into four groups (6 rats in each group): (1)Sham-operated (SO) group: the coronary artery of rat was threading without hgation, and the heart was removed by cutting immediately 4 hours later; (2) Isehemia-reperfusion (I/R) group: the rats were administered with 0.9% saline intravenously via caudal vein at 24 hours before iigating the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery for 30 minutes, and followed by reperfusion for 4 hours; (3)5-hydroxydecanoate plus pioglitazone(5HD+Pio) group: the rats were injected with 10 mg/kg 5-hy-droxydecanoate (the blocker of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels,) at 24 hours before ligation, and 30 minutes later, 3 mg/kg pioglitazone was given in 5 minutes, and then the rats were subjected to ischemia for 30 minutes, followed by reperfusion for4 hours; (4)pioglitazone treatment group (Pio): the mrs were given 3 mg/kg pioglitazone at 24 hours before occlusion, and then they were treated as done in the 5HD+Pio group. In I/R, 5HD+Pio and Pio group, the hearts were removed by cutting after reperfusion. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of P38MAPK, .INK and NFκB P65. In experiment Ⅱ, 30 rats were randomly divided into five groups: SO, I/R, Pio, 5HD+Pio and 5-HD group (rats were treated as done in the rats of I/R group and were injected with 10 mg/kg 5-bydroxydecanoate 24 h before ischemia/reperfusion),and the size of myocardial in-farction and isehemia were measured after reperfusion. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS10.0 soft-ware. Multiple comparisons were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (SNK-q test). P<0.05 was consid-ered statistically significant. Results (1) The infarct size in i/R group was(34.93±5.55)%, while pioglita-zone reduced the infarct size to(20.24±3.93)% (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between I/R and 5-HD±Pio or 5-HD groups (P>0.05). Compared with the sham-operated group, the expression of P38MAPKmRNA, JNKmRNA and protein of P38MAPK, JNK and NFκB P65 in I/R increased (P<0.05). Com-pared with the I/R group, pioglitazone inhibited these undue expressions (P<0.05). Conclusions Pioglitazone could protect the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury evidenced by reducing infarct size. These protective effects of pioglitazone may be related to opening mitochondrial ATP-seusitive potassium channels or downregulation of JNK and p38 MAPK signaling, leading to the overexpression of NFκB p65 activation.

0.999 9.The recovery was between 60%-120%.CONCLUSION:The method is simple,accurate and can be used to determine aflatoxin G2、G1、B2、B1 in Naoliqing Pill,Renshen Yangrong Pill,Rensen Jiapi Pill,Sanqi Tablet,Jinshuibao Capsule and Bailine Capsule.

Objective To establish a quality standard for Jianpibushen granules .Methods The five main ingredients of the formulation :Astragalus membranaceus ,Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge ,Codonopsis pilosula ,Citrus reticulata Blanco and Paeonia lactif lora Pall ,were identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC) respectively .The content of peoniflorin in Paeo-nia lactif lora was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) .The separation was performed on Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column(4 .6 mm × 250 mm ,5 μm) .The mobile phase was acetonitrile and 0 .1% potassium dihydrogen phos-phate solution for gradient elution .The flow rate was 1 ml/min ,the column temperature was 25 ℃ ,the UV detection was per-formed at 230 nm .Results The spots in TLC were clear without interference in negative control .A good linear relationship was shown within the range of 8 .676-277 .632 μg /ml for peoniflorin (r=0 .999 9) .Conclusion This method is simple ,accu-rate and reproducible ,and can be used as an effective quality control of Jianpibushen granules .

Objective To observe over-time changes in rat blood flow in the skins of related meridian points during physiological status, the pathological state of ischemic myocardial injury and low or high frequency electroacupuncture intervention and explore the post effect of different frequency electroacupuncture on related meridian points after treating ischemic myocardial injury. Method Fifty male Wister rats were randomized into five groups: blank control, sham operation, model, low frequency electroacupuncture (meridian point A) and high frequency electroacupuncture (meridian point B), 10 rats each. Blood flow in the skins of bilateral points Neiguan (PC6), Ximen (PC4) and Tianquan (PC2), and non-meridian and non-acupoint control points was measured by laser speckle contrast imaging in every group immediately and at 30 and 60 min after the end of three treatments. Statistical analysis was made. Result Blood flow in the skins of bilateral points Neiguan, Ximen and Tianquan was significantly lower in the blank control group than in the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05). Blood flow in the skin of every acupoint increased in varing degrees after low or high frequency electroacupuncture treatment. Blood flow in bilateral points Neiguan, Ximen and Tianquan regions in meridian point group A was closer to that in the blank control group immediately after treatment. Blood flow in three left-side and three right-side acupoint regions in meridian point group B was closer to that in the blank control group at 30 and 60 min, respectively, after treatment. Conclusion The immediate effect of low frequency electroacupuncture on blood flow in acupoint regions is better than high frequency electroacupuncture during intervention in ischemic myocardial injury. The post effect of high frequency electroacupuncture on blood flow in acupoint regions is better than low frequency electroacupuncture during intervention in ischemic myocardial injury.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the occupational hazard factors and their critical control points in the process of construction of a large-scale construction project.METHODS: The engineering analysis, worksite survey occupational health and occupational hazard factor testing were conducted in a large-scale construction project, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: During the process of construction of this large-scale construction project, there were many occupational hazard factors such as silicon dust, welding smoke, wood and other dusts, inorganic compounds of manganese, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, ozone, noise, high temperature, hand-transmitted vibration and ultraviolet irradiation, among them, silicon dust and noise were the most common ones. The over standard rates of exposure concentration of short term of total dust and respirable dust in the workplace were 68.2%(15/22) and 40.9%(9/22), and the over standard rates of exposure concentration of time weighted average were 54.5%(12/22) and 13.6%(3/22), respectively. The over standard rates of the noise intensity of area sampling and personal sampling in workplace were 69.2%(45/65) and 61.0%(25/41) respectively. The four hours energy equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration to vibration of three hand-transmitted vibration positions has been detected, and the result has surpassed the occupational exposure limit.The results of other occupational hazard factors such as high temperature, ultraviolet radiation, wood dust, welding smoke, other dust, manganese inorganic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide and ozone all met the occupational exposure limits. CONCLUSION: There are various occupational hazard factors in the process of construction of this large-scale construction project, among them, noise, dust and hand-transmitted vibration are the most prominent hazards.These hazards are the critical control points of this type of construction projects.

Objective To study the effect of the EGF-L functional region containing human TN-R protein in prokaryocytes and anti-EGF-L serum on the cortical neuronsin vitro in rats. Methods The anti-EGF-L serum was obtained from the rabbits immunized with the protein of EGF-L, then combine with TN-R coat petri dish to prepare various culture substrate.The effect on adhere,migrate and neurite outgrowth of neuron by differ culture substrate was observed. Results High concentration of antiserum against protein of EGF-Lwas successfully obtained from the rabbits,and it has no effect on the neuron when coated on petri dish as culture substrate with PLL in vitro,but can add the adhesive to the neuron,partly neutralize the inhibitory on the neuron neurite of TN-R.The antiserum can also allow the neuron with its neurite to migrate to the area coated with TN-R. Conclusion The anti-EGF-L serum can weaken the inhibitory on the neuron of TN-R in vitro,the function in vivo need further research,

OBJECTIVETo investigate the results of reconstruction of hypopharyngeal circumferential and cervical esophageal defects with free jejunal transfer.

METHODSRetrospective review of 112 patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with free jejunal interposition. Analysis was confined to the patients with advanced hypopharyngeal, esophageal or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell cancer. Kaplan-Meier method was used to identify the accumulative survival rate.

RESULTSThe free jejunal success rate was 94.6% (106/112). The pharyngocutaneous fistula rate and anastomoses narrow rate were 8.9% (10/112) and 12.5% (12/96) respectively. The perioperative mortality rate was 1.8% (2/112). Except 1 case of dead, 6 cases with flap failure and 2 cases with laryngeal preservation, other 103 cases had resumed oral feeding.

CONCLUSIONSThe success rate of free jejunal transplantation is high and free jejunal interposition is an ideal reconstruction method for patients who have hypopharyngeal circumferential and cervical esophageal defects after tumor resection.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Jejunum ; transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies