Objective To investigate heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and nuclear factor-?appa B(NF-?B)expression in the lung after mechanical ventilation with PEEP(positive end expiratory pressure)in a rabbit model of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Methods Thirty healthy adult white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. After anesthesia and tracheostomy were installed, rabbits received ventilation with different tidal volumes for 4 hrs. In PEEP group, rabbits received ventilation withVT=40ml/kg, PEEP=3cmH_2O; group, rabbits received ventilation with VT=40ml/kg, PEEP=0cmH_2O; and NVC group, with normal ventilation with VT=10ml/kg. The different modalities of ventilation were maintained for 4 hours. After 4 hours, rabbits were killed by exsanguination. Lung histopathology was examined and compared among three groups. Expression of HSP70 and NF-?B were determined by using Western-blot technique. Results There were marked pathological changes in the lung tissue in group ZEEP, but pathological changes were relatively milder in group PEEP. After injurious ventilation for 4 hours, there was a significantly higher expression of HSP70 and NF-?B in group ZEEP, while that of NF-?B was negatively correlated with HSP70 levels. There was a significant lower expression of NF-?B in the lung of group PEEP. Conclusion We postulate that HSP70 expression protects the lung against ventilator-induced lung injury by down-regulating expression of NF-?B in the lung. Mechanical ventilation with PEEP can protect the lung against ventilator-induced lung injury through down-regulation of NF-?B in the lung.

In order to study neurotransmitter receptor regulation in the basal ganglia involved in the functional changes underlying levodopa-induced motor complications, quantitative autoradiography was used to observe receptor bindings of dopamine D1 and D2, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and amino butyric acid (GABA) in the basal ganglia of rats that had unilateral nigrostriatal lesions and had been chronically treated with levodopa until motor complications developed. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups: normal, denervated and treatment-complicated groups. The results showed that response duration to levodopa became progressively shorter and abnormal involuntary movement (AIM) score was progressively increased during the course of levodopa treatment. Chronic treatment augmented D1 receptors more than denervation, and reduced D2 receptors that were also increased by dopamine denervation. Striatal NMDA receptors were substantially up-regulated in the treatment-complicated group. Levodopa treatment did not change receptors of nigral AMPA, pallidal GABA, and subthalamic GABA, which remained the same as that in denervation group. However, chronic treatment reversed the increase of nigral GABA receptors caused by the lesion. It was concluded that a shortening of response duration and AIM mimicked levodopa-induced motor complications of Parkinson's patients. These data suggested that up-regulation of dopamine D1 and NMDA receptors in the striatum leads to an imbalance of stimulation through the striatal output pathways, which is associated with levodopa-induced motor complications.

In order to study neurotransmitter receptor regulation in the basal ganglia involved in the functional changes underlying levodopa-induced motor complications,quantitative autoradiography was used to observe receptor bindings of dopamine D1 and D2,N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA),amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and amino butyric acid (GABA) in the basal ganglia of rats that had unilateral nigrostriatal lesions and had been chronically treated with levodopa until motor complications developed.The rats were randomly assigned to three groups:normal,denervated and treatment-complicated groups.The results showed that response duration to levodopa became progressively shorter and abnormal involuntary movement (AIM) score was progressively increased during the course of levodopa treatment.Chronic treatment augmented DI receptors more than denervation,and reduced D2 receptors that were also increased by dopamine denervation.Striatal NMDA receptors were substantially up-regulated in the treatment-complicated group.Levodopa treatment did not change receptors of nigral AMPA,pailidai GABA,and subthalamic GABA,which remained the same as that in denervation group.However,chronic treatment reversed the increase ofnigral GABA receptors caused by the lesion.It was concluded that a shortening of response duration and AIM mimicked levodopa-induced motor complications of Parkinson's patients.These data suggested that up-regulation of dopamine D1 and NMDA receptors in the striatum leads to an imbalance of stimulation through the striatal output pathways,which is associated with levodopa-induced motor complications.

Objective:The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 18 cases of Japanese spotted fever (JSF) in Zigui County were analyzed in order to improve the prevention and treatment of JSF.Methods:This is a case series analysis. The epidemiological and clinical data, laboratory tests and imaging characteristics of 18 JSF cases with median age of 60 years (54, 68) identified by The People′s Hospital of Zigui from April 2021 to August 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Results:Most (17/18) of the patients were farmers and all had a field exposure history. The patient′s onset was from April to October. Spring and autumn were the seasons with the highest incidence of JSF. The first symptoms of patients were high fever, headache, and fatigue. Of the 18 cases, 15 had a rash and 12 presented an eschar and 3 had neither rash nor eschar. In addition, 10 of 18 cases experienced edema of both lower extremities, and 3 got disturbance of consciousness. Laboratory tests found that 15 patients had abnormal white blood cells and 11 patients had decreased platelets. C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase were elevated in all patients; 13 patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase, 14 patients with elevated aspartate transamination. Kidney damage caused by Rickettsia japonica infection showed by abnormal proteinuria in 11 of the patients. Conclusions:The most common clinical manifestations of JSF are non-specific indications such as high fever, chills, fatigue, headache. The eschar and rash, which are the main features of Rickettsia infection, are not present in all patients, resulting delay of diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Medical workers should be more alert to rickettsial infections in patients with fever of unknown origin, especially in seasons of high incidence of spotted fever. Early diagnosis and correct antibiotic treatment shall be given according to the patient′s clinical manifestations, laboratory results and imaging test to control disease progression.

Objective To investigate the beneficial role of synbiotics in the intestinal microbiota of patients with chronic functional constipation (CFC).Methods According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,6 patients with CFC were enrolled with their fresh fecal samples collected,after a continuous treatment of one month their fresh fecal samples collected again.Meanwhile,6 healthy volunteers were enrolled as the control group with their fresh fecal samples collected.All samples were transported with ice and stored in -80 ℃ refrigerator,and were analyzed by metagenomics sequencing.Results After 4 weeks of symbiotic treatment,the intestinal microbiota had changed in species in patients with CFC.Bacteria of Escherichia_ coli,Clostridium_ sp._ SS2/1 and Clostridium_ sp._ 7_ 3_ 54FAA,which were rich in the people with constipation,decreased in abundance after the treatment.Bacteria of Lactobacillus_ oris and Bifidobacterium _ animalis,which were rich in the healthy people,increased in content after the treatment.Bacteria of Veillonella_ parvula,Veillonella_ sp._ 6_ 1_ 27,Veillonella_ sp._ 3 _ 1_ 44 which were rich in the healthy people,decreased in content after the treatment.LEfSe analysis showed that Parabacteroides distaso nis,Escherichia_ coli and Enterobacter-cloacae were the specific species of the three groups respectively.Conclusion Synbiotics can change the intestinal microbiota showing therapeutic effect,thus can be used as a novel clinical treatment method.