Objective To evaluate the relationship between Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and propofol-induced inhibition of endotoxin-induced release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) from alveolar macrophages (AMs) of rats.Methods AMs extracted from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured and inoculated in 6-well plates (1 × 106 cells/well)and in 96-well plates (1×104 cells/well).The cells were divided into 5 groups (n=18 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),dimethyl sulfoxide group (group D),lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (group L),propofol group (group P) and LPS plus propofol group (group L+P).The cells were continuously cultured with phosphate buffer solution in group C.Dimethyl sulfoxide was added at the final concentration of 5 mg/ml in group D.LPS was added at the final concentration of 1 μg/ml in group L.Propofol was added at the final concentration of 25 μmol/L (4.46 μg/ml) in group P.LPS and propofol were added at the final concentration of 1 μg/ml and 25 μmol/L (4.46 μg/ml),respectively,in group L+P.At 24 h of culture or incubation,the cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay,the morphological changes of cells were observed using Wright's staining,the concentration of TNF-α in the supernatant was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and TLR4 expression and NF-κB activities were measured by Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the cell viability and concentration of TNF-α in the supernatant were significantly increased,the expression of TLR4 was up-regulated,and the activity of NF-κB was enhanced in L and L+P groups (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in D and P groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group L,the cell viability and concentration of TNF-α in the supernatant were significantly decreased,the expression of TLR4 was down-regulated,and the activity of NF-κB was weakened (P＜0.05),the morphological changes of cells were significantly attenuated,and the number of pseudopodia was reduced in group L+P.Conclusion The mechanism by which propofol inhibits endotoxin-induced release of TNF-α from AMs is related to inhibited activation of TLR4/NF-λB signaling pathway in rats.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on thoracic facet joint disorder between the combined therapy of electroacupuncture and manual reduction and the simple manual reduction.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty patients were randomized into an electroacupuncture and manual manipulation group (group A) and a simple manual manipulation group (group B), 80 cases in each one. In the group A, Ashi points and three pairs of Jiaji (EX-B 2) bilateral to the painful sites were selected. The perpendicular puncture was used at Ashi points, the oblique puncture was used at Jiaji (EX-B 2) and connected with electric stimulation for 20 min, additionally, the corresponding manual reduction was adopted at the sites of facet joint disorder. In the group B, the simple manual reduction was applied to the affected sites. Acupuncture was given once every day, the manual reduction was applied once every 10 days. The treatment of 10 days made one session. The efficacy was analyzed statistically at the end of two sessions of treatment. Before and after treatment, McGill pain scale was adopted for the value statistical analysis. PRI score, VAS score and PPI score of patients were calculated before and after treatment and compared in the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe curative rate was 56.3% (45/80) in the group A, which was better than 18.8% (15/80) in the group B (P< 0.01). The total effective rate was 95.0% (76/80) in the group A, which was better than 76.3% (61/80) in the group B (P<0.01). The scores of PRI, VAS and PPI after treatment were all improved significantly in the two groups (all P<0.05), in which, the results in the group A were better than those in the group B (PRI: 4.00 +/- 0.97 vs 5.44 +/- 1.16, VAS: 3.29 +/- 0.72 vs 3.87 +/- 0.81, PPI: 1.07 +/- 0.74 vs 1.64 +/- 0.90, all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of electroacupuncture and manual manipulation achieves the superior efficacy on thoracic facet joint disorder as compared with the simple manual manipulation. The combined therapy relieves the symptoms of thoracic facet joint disorder and reduces the severity of disorder.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Diseases ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Citalopram on the mRNA expression of bax and bel-2 in frontal cortical neurons and on cell apoptosis of rats after stress.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8). The control group did no receive any treatment, the stress group was subject to stress and given normal saline and experimental group was given Citalopram irrigation stomach after stress. Rats were forced to swim to establish chronic stress model (15 min/d, 4 weeks), bax, bcl-2 mRNA expression were tested by in situ hybridization technique (ISH), TUNEL assay was used to determine cell apoptosis, Nikon image analysis software were used to measure the number of positive cells in each index.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the stress group showed a larger number of bax mRNA expressing cells( P < 0.01), a smaller number of bcl-2 mRNA expressing cells (P < 0.01), and the staining intensity of positive cells was significantly reduced( P < 0.01). Compared with the stress group, the experiment group showed more reduced number of bax mRNA positive cells( P < 0.01) and significantly increased bcl-2 mRNA positive cells( P < 0.05), a small amount of positive cells were found, compared with that in the stress group, nuclear condensation in the experimental group was reduced significantly and the staining was obviously weaker( P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCitalopram significantly antagonizes bax mRNA and potentiatesbcl-2 mRNA protein expression and inhibits apoptosis of rat prefrontal cortical neurons caused by chronic stress, which might be one possible mechanism of Citalopram for prevention and treatment of psychosis caused by chronic stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Citalopram ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prefrontal Cortex ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

AIM　To investigate the poteintation of vincristine-induecd apoptosis by tetrandrine, neferine and dauricine isolated from Chinese medicinal plants in the human mammary MCF-7 multidrug resistant cells. METHODS　The apoptotic cells were detected by fluorescent staining of a combination of Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide (PI), flow cytometry and agarose electrophoresis. RESULTS　The apoptotic cells induced by vincristine alone accounted for about 10% of all the cancer cells, while the percentage of apoptotic cells induced by a combination of vincristine with tetrandrine, neferine, or dauricine was found to be significantly higher than that by vincristine alone, and their reversal effects were positively correlated with the drug concentration and the exposure time. In addition, tetrandrine was shown to be the most potent in the reversal efficacy among the three compounds to be tested for apoptosis in vitro. CONCLUSION　Tetrandrine, neferine and dauricine showed obvious potenitiation of vincristine-induced apoptosis in the human mammary MCF-7 multidrug-resistant cells.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the lung volume (LV) in inspiration and expiration,pulmonary function tests(PFT),and other CT measurements of emphysema index (EI) and mean lung density (MLD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Seventy-six patients with COPD were included.Three-dimension analysis was performed to obtain the following CT parameters on the inspiratory and expiratory phases:EI,MLD,LV.The ratios and differencesof MLD and LV between the two phases were calculated(ΔMLD,ΔLV,MLDex/in,LVexin).Not only the linear correlations between the lung volume parameters and PFT but also the correlations of lung volume parameters with the other CT parameters were tested by the Spearman rank correlation test and multivariant step wise regression.Results LVex/in had negative correlations with forced expiratory volume in 1 second ％ predicted [FEV1 ％,(54.32 ± 7.11)] and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC,(49.12 ±8.01)％] (r =-0.69,-0.56,P ＜0.01),but it had the positive correlation with the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity [RV/TLC,(58.03 ± 8.55) ％,Spearman coefficients 0.66,P ＜ 0.01].LV/exin (0.67 ± 0.12) was positively correlated with MLDex/in (0.89 ± 0.04,r =0.88,P ＜0.01).The further multivariate step wise regression denonstrated that EI,LV and MLD could introduce a regression equation with R2 =0.77 and 0.73,respectively (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions There is an association between LVex/in and the parameters of routine PFT,which can reflect the collapsibility of lung.Moreover,LVex/in can be considered to be equivalent to MLDex/in.Taking into account the impact of scanning parameters on MLDex/in,LVex/in may play a complementary role in the assessment of pulmonary function.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of Qing Yi Tang on acute pancreatitis(AP),especially AP complicated with endotoxemia and its possible mechanism.METHODS Fourty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups including group A(the control group),group B(the AP group),group C(the AP group treated with Qing Yi Tang),group D(the AP group treated with LPS) and group E(the AP group treated with LPS + Qing Yi Tang).Pathological damage of pancreatic tissue was scored with HE staining.The mRNA expression of TNF-? was measured with semi-quantitative RT-PCR,and activation of NF-?B was detected with flow cytometry(FCM) assay.RESULTS It was shown in results that the expression of TNF-? mRNA,activation of NF-?B and pathological damage of the group B were all obviously higher than those of the group A.After treated with LPS which might promote the activation of NF-?B,there was seen the further rise of the activation of NF-?B,expression of TNF-? mRNA and pathological damage.When Qing Yi Tang intervention was applied,the activation of NF-?B and the expression of TNF-? mRNA could be remarkably relieved,so did the pathological damage of pancreas.CONCLUSIONS Qing Yi Tang may be applied to decrease activation of NF-?B and the expression of TNF-? so as to treat AP or AP with endotoxemia.

Objective To explore the effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress response(ERS) and its related apoptosis on dopaminergic neurons death.Methods NGF treated-PC12 cells were treated with 6-OHDA,MPP+ and rotenone.MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to measure the cell viability and the rate of cells apoptosis induced by those neurotoxins at different concentrations and times.The expressions of ERS-related gene XBP1,Grp78,CHOP,caspase-12 in drug-treated group and reserpine preincubation group were determined by RT-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.Results After exposing to different concentration toxins,the vitality of PC12 cells was decreased by 52% at 100?mol/L 6-OHDA,by 44% at 75?mol/L MPP~+,and by 40% at 20 nmol/L rotenone for 24 hours respectively and ws decreased in a dose dependent manner. FCM assay confirmed time-dependent cell apoptosis.The apoptotic cells ratio of 24 h groups were (31.22?3.21)%,(27.46?2.35)%,(29.26?2.53)%,respectively(P＜0.01).In 6-OHDA groups,the gene expressions of XBP1,Grp78 were approximately 2-fold increased after 8 h exposure, CHOP reached peak level at 16 h(149.5?3.3% vs 35.9?1.8%,P＜0.01).The transcription level of caspase-12 was significantly higher than normal control at 16h[(95.4?2.8% vs(23.8?3.0)%, P＜0.01],but was alleviated by reserpine prcincubation(62.15?4.3%,P＜0.05).The increased expressions of Grp78 and CHOP after drug exposure were confirmed by immunochemistry stain.The similar results were observed in MPP~+ and rotenone groups.Conclusions The excessive ERS and ERS-activated cell apoptosis pathway may be involved in selective death of dopaminergic neurons.

AIM :To investigate the association of primary open-glaucoma (POAG), intraocular pressure (IOP) and systemic blood pressure in a rural population aged 50 years old or above in Shaanxi Province, China.METHODS: In the population-based, cross-sectional study, 1 775 (83.53%) residents, aged 50 years old or above, from 3 counties of Shaanxi Province, China, undertook an interview with a standard questionnaire and a detailed eye examination, including logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry and dilated fundus examination. Two blood pressure reading in the sitting position were taken. Gonioscopy was performed if a narrower peripheral anterior chamber (less than one fourth of the corneal thickness) was indicated. Automated visual field testing was performed by participants assessed to have suspicion of glaucomatous disc damage or if IOP was 22mmHg or higher.RESULTS: IOP significantly correlated with systemic blood pressure, and both IOP and systolic blood pressure increased significantly with increasing age. No association between POAG and hypertension was found. The frequency of POAG increased significantly with lower diastolic perfusion pressure.CONCLUSION: Data in our study are accordance with those reported in other population-based studies, and confirm that lower diastolic perfusion pressure is a significant risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma.

AIM: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a rural population in Shaanxi Province of China.METHODS: A total of 2 835 (81.00%) people aged 40 years old or more, from Fuping county, Jingbian county and Yang county of Shaanxi Province, China, underwent a comprehensive interview and a relative eye examination. The present of AMD was classified into neovascular AMD (NV) and pure geographic atrophy (GA) by using direct ophthalmoscopy for fundus examination according to International Classification System.RESULTS: The prevalence (95% CI) of AMD was 3.00% (2.42, 3.71) in this population, of which NV accounted for 1.45% (1.05, 1.98) and 1.55% (1.14, 2.10)for GA. The prevalence of AMD increased significantly with increasing age (P ＜0.001). AMD was present in 0.47% of participants aged 40 to 49 years, rising to 11.90% of participants older than 80 years, of which the corresponding data increased from 0.28% to 4.76% for NV and from 0.19% to 7.14% for GA. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of NA and GA between genders in this population. With multiple logistic analyses, apart from advancing age, only smoking was found to have a strong association with any type of AMD.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AMD in the rural population of Shaanxi Province of China is lower than that reported from other population-based studies in different provinces of China, less than that reported in whites, more than that reported in blacks. Except increasing age, smoking is also a significant well-known risk factor for AMD.

· AIM: To assess the prevalence and related risk factors for primary angle-closure glaucoma in a rural population for 40 years of age or older in Shaanxi Province.· METHODS: By using a stratified, cluster-based, random sampling technique, 8 500 persons of all ages were selected randomly, including 3 500 those aged 40 years or more, from the North, the South and the Middle of Shaanxi Province in Western China from July to December in 2003. All participants had an interview with a standard questionnaire and those questions related to glaucoma of previous diagnosis and treatment, family history and outbreak history. Then a detailed and relative eye examination was performed, including logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity, external eye examination with slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundus examination. The intraocular pressure was measured with Perkins applanation tonometry to those persons aged 50 years old or more and those with suspected increased IOP. A further examination was performed to those persons with suspicious glaucoma, including repeated tonometric examination, gonioscopy, dark room test, automated visual field testing, et al.·RESULTS: 6 815 of the eligible 8 500 persons of all ages were interviewed and examined from July to December in 2003, a response rate of 80.18%, including 2835 of the eligible 3 500 persons of 40 years old or more with a response rate of 81.00%. According to Van Herick method, the percentage of shallow peripheral anterior chamber was 13.6%, of which 10.4% was in grade 2, 3.0% in grade 1, and 0.2% in grade 0. In this rural population for 40 years of age or older 31 participants were found to have primary angle-closure glaucoma, with the prevalence of 1.09%. With multiple logistic analyses, the prevalence increased significantly with age (P=0.008), whereas no significant difference (Pgender=0.180, Peducation=0.199) was found in the rate with gender and education, although women and illiteracy seemed to be at increased risk of the disease (OR: 1.77, 95%CI,0.77-4.10; OR: 1.71, 95%CT, 0.76-3.87). Of 31 participants, 21 persons (67.74%) had not been previously diagnosed and treated. Of 10 participants previously diagnosed, 6 (60%) had been received peripheral iridectomy; nevertheless, no any other treatments were performed. 48.39% participants suffered from visual impairment in various degrees, of which the percentage of blindness in either eye accounted for 29.03%. Of those with primary angle-closure glaucoma, 22 persons (70.97%) were classified as having chronic from of the disease.· CONCLUSION: In this rural population in Shaanxi Province of China, the rate of occludable angles is 13.6%, more common than that reported previously in other Chinese populations. The prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma is close to that from other Asian populations, increasing with age. A majority of glaucoma was undiagnosed and untreated previously.