Objective To explore the changes of Clara cell secretory protein(CCSP) in asthmatic children and the effects of inhaling glucocorticoid (ICS) on CCSP.Methods Sixty children with asthma were selected as asthma group(in which 39 cases were male and 21 cases were female,aged 3-12 years old) and 30 healthy children were selected as healthy control group(in which 20 cases were male and 10 cases were female,aged 3-12 years old).Venous blood samples were collected in asthma group and healthy control group in morning before breakfast,and then sera were obtained by centrifuge in speed of 1 500 r?min-1 in 10 min.The dynamic levels of CCSP were measured in sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results 1.In asthmatic children,the CCSP levels in acute episode,3 months after ICS,6 months after ICS, and 12 months after ICS[(5.140?2.331)?g?L-1,(8.730?3.392)?g?L-1,(10.510?2.813)?g?L-1]were all lower than that in healthy control group[(13.230?4.010)?g?L-1](Pa0.05).2.Compared with acute episode,the patients who ICS for 3 months,6 months and 12 months had significantly higher levels of CCSP (Pa0.05).Conclusions CCSP may play a protective role in the airway inflammation of asthma.Glucocorticoid may increase CCSP level in asthmatic children.Glucocorticoid and CCSP may cooperate in anti-inflammation in airway of asthmatic children.

Objective To observe the effects of chronic arsenic exposure on estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9 (Ebag9) and estrogen-responsive finger protein (efp) mRNA expression in female rat' s myocardium.Methods Fifty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups according to arsenic (As2O3) concentrations in drinking-water:0.00(control),0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups and RT-PCR was used to detect Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression of myocardium at the 32 weeks of experiment.Results Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression levels in 0.00,0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups were respectively as follows:0.54 ±0.14,0.52 ± 0.10,0.48 ± 0.24,0.58 ± 0.13,0.45 ± 0.19 and 0.85 ± 0.14,0.86 ± 0.12,0.87 ± 0.09,0.99 ±0.10,0.86 ± 0.19.Compared to the control group,Ebag9 mRNA level of the 0.20 mg/L group was increased,and decreased in other groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant(all P ＞ 0.05).Compared to control group,the efp mRNA level of 0.20 mg/L group increased significantly(P ＜ 0.05),and showed increased tendency in other arsenic groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression have changed in myocardium of rats exposed to chronic arsenic.Arsenic may has endocrine disruptor effect to female rat's myocardium.

Objective To investigate the effects of heparin coating on intimal hyperplasia in implanted decellularized xenografts.Methods The resected canie carotid arteries were decellularized,and heparin coating was partially performed.Eighteen rabbits were divided into non-heparin-coated group(n=9)and heparin-coated group(n=9).During implantation,only the left carotid between the anastomotic stoma was ligated.Doppler ultrasonography was performed 1,3 and 12 weeks post-implantation to measure the luminal diameter,and the hemodynamic parameters such as PSV,RI and PI were calculated.All animals were sacrificed,histological observations were conducted at 12 weeks post-implantation,and I/(I+ M)was calculated.Results Except for 1 week post-implantation in the ligated side,the luminal diameters in non-heparin -coated group were significantly smaller than that of pre-implantation.Besides,those of the non-ligated side at each time points were significantly smaller than the ligated side(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept plus Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in elderly patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly patients with active RA were randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases) and the control group (24 cases). All patients received subcutaneous injection of etanercept, 25 mg each time, twice per week. The dosage was reduced to once per week 3 months later. Patients in the treatment group took TWP Tablet (10 mg each time, three times per day), while those in the control group took methotrexate (MTX), 10 mg each time, once per week. The whole course lasted for 24 weeks. Patients' rest pain, tender joint number, swollen joint number, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), patients' global assessment, physicians' global assessment, erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatic factor were assessed at week 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24. The curative effect was statistically evaluated by the United States Institute of Rheumatology ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 improvement criteria. Meanwhile, any adverse event was recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSTotally 41 completed the trial, and 5 dropped off (3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group). Compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in ACR20, ACR50, or ACR70 in the treatment group (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, there was some improvement in tender joint number, swollen joint number, visual analogue scale (VAS) for patients' global assessment, VAS for physicians' global assessment, ESR, CRP, and HAQ between the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group in the same phase, there was no statistical difference in the treatment group (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSEtanercept plus TWP could achieve equivalent therapeutic effect to that of Etanercept plus MTX. The two regimens could improve clinical signs, symptoms, and QOL related to RA. They were well tolerated in the treatment of elderly patients with active RA.

Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etanercept ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) and lung injuries by assessing their clinical manifestations and characteristics.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to April 2012, 91 UC patients presenting to Longhua Hospital who met the established inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in this retrospective study. According to the scores of disease activity index, the patients were divided into the mild, moderate, and severe groups. Meanwhile, the records of pulmonary symptoms, chest X-ray image, and pulmonary function were reviewed.

RESULTSSixty-eight (74.7%) patients had at least 1 pulmonary symptom, such as cough (38.5%), shortness of breath (27.5%), and expectoration (17.6%). And 77 (84.6%) had at least 1 ventilation abnormality. Vital capacity value was significantly lower in the severe group than that in the mild group (91.82%±10.38% vs. 98.92%±12.12%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLung injury is a common extraintestinal complication of UC. According to the theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine that the lung and large intestine are related, both the lungs and large intestine should be treated simultaneously.

Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vital Capacity

Objective To study the risk factors of skin lesion (keratosis and abnormal skin pigmentation) of population exposed to arsenic via drinking water in Inner Mongolia.Methods A cluster sampling method was used to select 902 cases from Linhe district,Hanghou and Wuyuan county in Inner Mongolia and physical examination was done.They were interviewed for information by questionnaire.The sample of fingernails and drinking water were collected.Water arsenic (As) was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS); fingernail As and Se content were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis(INAA).Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate non-conditional Logistic regression.Results Single factor analysis showed that risk factors of keratosis were age,pesticide,arsenic in nails,smoking,years of smoking,drinking of alcohol,arsenic content in drinking water,fluorosis and duration of drinking arsenic-containing water,while occupation,nail selenium content and vitamin were protective factors.There were 10 risk factors for pigment abnormalities,which were age,pesticide,arsenic in nails,smoking,years of smoking,numbers of cigarette smoked daily,drinking of alcohol,fluorosis,the arsenic content in drinking water and duration of drinking arseniccontaining water,while sex,occupation and nails with selenium were protective factors.The multivariate factor analysis showed that the risk factors of keratosis were age,pesticide and arsenic content in drinking water(OR =1.387,1.583,1.321,all P ＜ 0.05),while occupation and vitamin were protective factors(OR =0.307,0.260,all P ＜ 0.05).The risk factors of abnormal skin pigmentation were age,pesticide,arsenic in nails,fluorosis and arsenic content in drinking water(OR =1.724,2.636,2.741,3.699,1.863,all P ＜ 0.05),while sex was protective factor(OR =0.255,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Many factors have influence on endemic arsenism and a composite measure should be implemented to prevent it such as excluding arsenic from drinking water,health education,and a reasonably intake of nutrients.

Objective To explore clinical value of serum total bile acid(TBA) and cholinesterase(CHE) in infantile hepatopathy.Methods Sixty infants diagnosed respectively with breast milk jaundice,cytomegalovirus hepatitis and congenital bile duct teratism were included.Twenty healthy infants were as control.The infants of cytomegalovirus hepatitis were self-compared in acute stage and convalescence stage.Serum TBA and CHE in every group were measured and compared.Results Serum TBA in control group,breast milk jaundice group,cytomegalovirus hepatitis group and congenital bile duct teratism group were(6.47?3.25),(8.71?1.79),(45.86?40.85),(119.50?31.73) ?mol/L,respectively;and CHE were(11295.50?1731.91),(10762.89?1237.30),(9771.32?860.27),(7967.304?31.58) U/L,respectively.Compared with other groups,the level of serum TBA and CHE in cytomegalovirus hepatitis group and the congenital bile duct teratism group were significantly different(all P

Objective To explore the roles of clara cell secretory protein(CCSP)and eosinophil cationic protein(ECP)in the pathoge-nesis of bronchial asthma and to evaluate their diagnostic value in asthmatic children.Methods Induced sputum samples were obtained from 31 asthmatic children during chronic persistent period and clinical remission period.According to global initiative for asthma(GINA),the total of 31 cases accepted systemic treatment by inhaling glucocorticoid.The patients included 18 boys and 13 girls aged from 3.7 to 12.0 years,and their average age was 7.6 years.Sputum CCSP concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).And the concentrations of sputum ECP were determined with Pharmacia UniCAP system.Results Asthmatic children had significantly lower CCSP levels in sputum during chronic persistent period compared with clinical remission period(P

Objective To explore roles of total immunoglobulin E(IgE),interleukin-13(IL-13) in asthmatic children,and relation-ship between IgE,IL-13 levels in serum and those in induced sputum.Methods Twenty-six children with asthma who were in chronic persistent period and 20 healthy children were enrolled.Serum and hypertonic saline-induced sputum were obtained in asthmatic children,and serum alone were obtained in control subjects.The levels of IgE were deteced in serum and induced sputum by Pharmacia UniCAP system,and levels of IL-13 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results Asthmatic children had significantly higher serum of IgE and IL-13 levels than those of healthy control group(P0.05).There was positive correlation of IL-13 in serum and induced sputum(r=0.432 P

BACKGROUND: Paraquat (PQ) is an effective herbicide and is widely used in agricultural production, but PQ poisoning is frequently seen in humans with the lung as the target organ. Clinically pulmonary pathological changes are often used to predict the severity and prognosis of the patients. In this study, we observed the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in rat lung after PQ poisoning and to investigate the therapeutic effects of ulinastatin. METHODS: Seventy-two adult healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (group A, n=24), a poisoning group (group B, n=24), and an ulinastatin group (group C, n=24). The rat models of acute PQ poisoning were established by intra-gastric administration of 80 mg/kg PQ to rats of groups B and C, and the rats of group C were intra-peritoneally injected with 100000 IU/kg ulinastatin 30 minutes after poisoning. The expression of HSP70 in lung tissue was observed, and W/D and histopathological changes in the lung tissue were compared 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after poisoning. The expression of HSP70 in the lung tissue was assayed by using RT-PCR. All quantitative data were processed with one-way analysis of variance to compare multiple sample means. RESULTS: Compared to group A, the expression of HSP70 in the lung of rats in groups B and C increased significantly at all intervals (P<0.05). The pathological changes in lung tissue of rats with PQ poisoning included congestion, leukocytes infiltration and local hemorrhage, whereas those of group C were significantly lessened. CONCLUSION: Ulinastatin may ameliorate acute lung injury to some extent after PQ poisoning in rats by enhancing the expression of HSP70.