Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE)and the underlying mechanism of immunoregulation.Method The Wistar rats were used to establish EAE model.After oral administration of 2, 8 mg? kg~(1)?d~(1)of atorvastatin, the rats were examined for the development of neurological signs, changes of histopathology and the expression of IL-4 and MMP-9.Result Though high dose treatment with atorvastatin, the frequency of EAE attacks degreased from 76.67% to 33.33%(P=0.008);the extent of inflammation degreased from 3.2?1.1 to 1.3?0.4(P=0.01);and the number of MMP-9 positive cells degreased from 37?7 to 26?5(P= 0.001), the expression of IL-4 could be increased from(0.35?0.12)ng/ml to(0.68?0.23)ng/ml (P=0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin can reduce the inflammation and produce the recover of the neurological harm because of the changes of MMP-9 and IL-4.

Objective To investigate the spatiotemporal expression patterns of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) receptors type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ and their relationships with development of outflow tract(OFT) in mouse embryonic heart. Methods Serial sections of mouse embryos from embryonic day 9 (E9d) to embryonic day 14 (E14d) were stained using PAP immunohistochemical methods. Results Expressions of TGF-β receptors type Ⅰ (TGF-βRⅠ) and type II(TGF-βRⅡ) in the myocardial wall of OFT started at E10d, reached the reflection with splanchnic epithelium on the dorsal wall of the pericardial cavity at E11d. At E12d, expression intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in myocardium increased to its highest level, and TGF-βRⅡ positive mesenchymal cells in OFT ridges could be detected. After E13d the staining intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ decreased rapidly,and at E14d,their expressions had fallen at the lowest.Conclusion The expressions of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in OFT are confined to the period of E10d to E14d, they may play important roles in regulating the myocardial cell proliferation, remodeling and septation of OFT, and promoting the differentiation from mesenchymal cells in the secondary heart field into smooth muscle cells in the distal end of OFT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tracheotomy ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective To monitor the quality changes of iodized salt and analyze its impact factor in Chongqing between 2001 and 2009. Methods Salt samples were collected according to the east, west, south,north and center locations in iodized salt production, wholesale and household sectors. Two units in iodized salt production and wholesale segment were sampled from north, south, east and west places and only 1 unit was sampled from the central place. Nine samples were collected every month in each place. If the place had less than 9 units, and then taken all the units. About resident household, 2 townships were sampled from north, south, east and west places, and 1 township was sampled from the central place, then 20 samples were collected from each township. Iodine content was detected by oxidation-reduction assay. The index of mean iodine, qualified rate from factories and wholesale, coverage rate and taking rate of qualified iodized salt in residents were calculated.Significance was analyzed by trend test, analysis of variance and X2 test. Results The qualified rate of iodized salt from the manufacturers was 92.9%(13/14) in 2001 and the rate was 100.0% each year from 2002 to 2009. The qualified rates of iodized salt from the wholesale were 88.7%(282/318) - 99.8%(431/432). The rates of 2001 and 2002 were lower than that of other years(X2 = 4.98 - 45.69, all P< 0.05 or < 0.01). The coverage rate and taking rate of qualified iodized salt in residents were 94.2% (11 154/11 841 ) - 98.9% ( 14 061/14 217), 83.5% (9 887/11 841 ) -95.8% (13 449/14 039), respectively. The rates showed an increasing tendency (F = 9.27, 26.39, all P < 0.05).The districts(counties) with qualified iodized salt consumption rate > 90% kept increasing. The mean iodine from the manufacturers and wholesale were 29.71 - 36.25, and 31.26 - 36.13 mg/kg, respectively. The iodine level showed a descending trend(F = 35.45, 140.59, all P < 0.01 ). The mean iodine level from the inhabitants were 28.84 - 30.98 mg/kg which remained stable (F = 3.05, P > 0.05 ). The iodine level from manufacturers, wholesale to inhabitants showed an descending trend(F = 38.46 - 671.23, all P < 0.01 ). Conclusions The surveillance results of iodized salt shows an increasing tendency in quality of iodized salt, eoverage rate and taking rate of qualified iodized salt. Factors that affect the quality of iodized salt is that the enterprise does not add iodine to salt strictly by the standard.

Objective To investigate the expression and distribution of Diacylglycerol Kinase α (DGKα) mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),and to explore the function of DGKα in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Tissues from 30 cases of HCC and 5 normal liver tissues were collected immediately after surgical resection.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression levels and distribution of DGKα mRNA,respectively.Results Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression level of DGKα mRNA in HCC (0.798±0.317) and normal tissues (0.908±0.425) was significantly higher than those in carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis (0.205±0.102,P<0.05).In situ hybridization demonstrated that the number of DGKα mRNA positive hepatocytes in HCC [(57.6±6.3)/mm2] and normal tissues [69.8±8.7)/mm2] was significantly higher than those in carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis [(26.3±4.9)/mm2,P<0.05]; DGKα mRNA was expressed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in HCC and carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis,and in the nuclear of hepatocytes in normal tissues.Conclusion The present study suggests that DGKa may play important roles in carcinogenesis and progressing of HCC.

AIM:To investigate the effect of bone morphogenetic proteins 9 (BMP9) on the migration and in-vasion abilities of human lung squamous-cell carcinoma NCI-H520 cells and its mechanism.METHODS:The expression of BMP9 at mRNA and protein levels in the NCI-H520 cells and human bronchial epithelial ( HBE) cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.The NCI-H520 cells were transfected with the recombinant adenovirus AdBMP9 and the expres-sion of BMP9 at mRNA and protein levels was validated by RT-PCR and Western blot.The migration and invasion abilities of the NCI-H520 cells were determined by wound-healing and Transwell assays.The mRNA and protein levels of the migra-tion-related factor matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.The level of phospho-rylated Smad1/5 (p-Smad1/5) was detected by Western blot.Meanwhile, NCI-H520 cells were treated with BMP specific antagonist AdNoggin and AdBMP9.The level of p-Smad1/5 and the cell migration ability were measured by Western blot, wound-healing and Transwell assays.RESULTS:The expression of BMP9 at mRNA and protein levels was lower in NCI-H520 cells than that in HBE cells.After AdBMP9 was stably transfected into the NCI-H520 cells, the expression of BMP9 at mRNA and protein levels was significantly up-regulated, cell migration and invasion abilities were significantly de-creased, and the mRNA and protein levels of MMP2 were decreased.Meanwhile, the level of p-Smad1/5 was increased. Noggin reversed BMP9-caused the increase in p-Smad1/5 and the decrease in cell migration ability.CONCLUSION:O-ver-expression of BMP9 inhibits the migration and invasion abilities of lung squamous-cell carcinoma NCI-H520 cells.The activation of BMP-Smad signaling pathway may be involved in this inhibitory process.

Alfimeprase(ALF)is a recombinantly modified variant of non-hemorrhagic zinc metalloproteinase fibrolase.The target gene alf was obtained from the clone vector p43-alf and cloned into the Pichia pastoris expression vector pPICZ? A.Through high efficiency transformation and Zeocin selection,the recombinant strains of pPICZ?A-alf /GS115 were isolated.In order to achieve a high level expression of recombinant Alfimeprase(rALF),optimization of pH value,methanol daily addition concentration,cell density and methanol induction time points were carried out,and the production of rALF reached up to 425 mg/L.By His?Bind chromatography,the purity of secreted rALF was as high as 95 %.SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis show that rALF has a molecular weight of about 24 kDa and is bound specifically to anti-His?tag monoclonal antibody.Activity identification results of the modified fibrin plate method demonstrate that the secreted rALF has high fibrinolytic activity.Thus sets up an optimized expression system for ALF,which will play an important role in its further studies and industrial production.

Objective:To analyze the meridian and acupoint-selection patterns in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by data mining technique,for exploring acupoints that could be effective for PCOS and providing suggestion and reference in selecting acupoints for the acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS.Methods:Literatures related to the acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS published before April 2018 were collected.By a self-made data mining program developed using Microsoft Excel 2007,a database of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS was then established.The correlation analysis was performed for the frequency of use of acupoints and acupoint groups.Cluster analysis was also conducted.Results:A total of 92 articles were recruited finally.Sanyinjiao (SP 6),Conception Vessel and chest-abdomen region ranked the top on the list of the most frequently used acupoints,meridians and regions,respectively.Correlation analysis showed that the acupoint group with the highest confidence was Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36),and the group with the highest support was Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4).Cluster analysis revealed five effective clusters:Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6);Zhongwan (CV 12) and Tianshu (ST 25);Zhongji (CV 3),Zusanli (ST 36) and Qihai (CV 6);Xuehai (SP 10),Shenshu (BL 23),Taichong (LR 3) and Guilai (ST 29);Ganshu (BL 18),Taixi (KI 3),Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Pishu (BL 20).Conclusion:According to the confidence and support report,Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) or Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4) are recommended in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS,with adjunct points selected for different patterns,e.g.Zhongwan (CV 12) and Tianshu (ST 25) for tonifying spleen and expelling dampness;Zhongji (CV 3) and Qihai (CV 6) for supplementing qi and cultivating blood;Xuehai (SP 10),Shenshu (BL 23),Taichong (LR 3) and Guilai (ST 29) for tonifying kidney and dissolving stasis;Ganshu (BL 18),Taixi (KI 3),Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Pishu (BL 20) for tonifying kidney and spleen and regulating liver.

OBJECTIVEAnalyzing the relationships between peripheral blood CD4+ CD25hi regulatory T (Treg) cells and peripheral blood immune status or plasma HIV-lviral load in HIV-infected individuals,so as to determine whether Treg were related to the progression of HIV-infected disease.

METHODS116 HIV-infected patients in different stages and 21 healthy control individuals were included in this study. The CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were determined by a standard 4-color flow cytometry technique. The Treg cells were examined with 3-color immune staining flow cytometry. The plasma HIV-1 viral load was detected by real time PCR.

RESULTSThe frequencies of Treg cells decreased in HIV-infected individuals with high CD4+ T cell counts( > 300/microl) compared with normal controls. With the progression of disease the frequencies of Treg cells were raised gradually, until were increased in HIV-infected individuals with low levels of CD4+ T cell counts ( < 100/microl). In addition, the frequencies of Treg cells were inversely related to CD4+ T cell counts and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio, data showed a statistically significant (respectively, r = -0.564, P < 0.001; r = -0.377, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the proportions of Treg cells were closely related to plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load (r = 0.514, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONCD4 CD25hi Treg cells should be a kind of important cells participating the immunopathogenesis of AIDS. It may play different roles in different stages of HIV-infected disease. The exact mechanism of Treg cells in the progression of the HIV-infected disease needs to be investigate further.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Progression ; Female ; HIV Infections ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Viral Load

Objective To investigate the prevalence and incidence of Keshan disease (KD) and the selenium concentration of food and hair in residents of Yongjin Village, Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province, national monitoring site, in 2007. Methods According to the Standard of Keshan Disease Surveillance and the Standard of Diagnosis of Keshan Disease(GB 17021-1997), the residents living in the monitoring site were surveyed by clinical examination and electrocardiography. For individuals whose hearts showed abnormalities, a chest X-ray photograph was taken. The selenium concentrations of the residents' food (flour) and hair were assayed by flowing injection hydride generation atomic fluoremetric method(FI-HG-AFM). Results Nineteen KD patients were found from 282 residents in 2007 KD surveillance. The prevalence of KD, latent KD and chronic KD were 6.7%(19/282), 2.8%(8/282) and 3.9%(11/282), respectively. Five of the 8 latent KD cases were newly found. In addition, there were 5 the suspected KD cases, including 2 suspected chronic KD cases. No acute KD or sub-acute KD patients were found in Yongjin Village at this monitoring site this year. The average selenium concentration of children hair and residents food were (0.3197±0.0586)mg/kg and (0.0210±0.0062)mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions New cases of KD continued to emerge, indicating that etiological factors still exist. Therefore, the emphasis of monitoring KD in furore is founding the consummate report of infectious disease system and training the personnel to increase the reliability of monitoring.