Since the endotoxic fever is mediated essentially by endogenous pyrogen (EP), we have examined the possibility that the central cAMP is involved in the mechanism of biphasic fever induced by endotoxin, as in the case of biphasic fever induced by EP. The results showed that administration of endotoxin in rabbits elicited typical biphasic fever. The fluctuation of concentration of cAMP in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) paralleled with the change of the rectal temperature, similar to that of the bipbasic fever caused by EP. Raised level of cAMP in plasma was observed only in the first phase. The cAMP concentration in CSF correlated positively with the febrile response. The correlation of cAMP levels in CSF and plasma was observed only in the first phase but not in all the febrilic periods. These findings indicated that the mechanism of endotoxic biphasic fever is associated with the Change of central cAMP. Content. The raised level of cAMP in CSF during fever is likely to represent the biosynthsis in brain regions. However, the possibility that the raised cAMP in plasma enters CSF in the first phase is not excluded.

The signals of body temperature from 4 different febrile patterns were sampled for power spectral analysis. The results showed that the spectrums had no difference between their distribution in frequency domain, only a low frequency peak has been seen. The values of the power spectrum varied directly to the intensity of the febrile responses. A high degree of relationship was found between the power spectral density and thermal response index (TRI).

AIM: To study the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) on the production of tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) in U937 cells. METHODS: PMA differentiated U937 cells were cocultured with PMN in the presence of lipopolysaccharide. Sodium azide was added in the culture. The supernatants of cell culture were collected and TNF-? was assayed with ELISA. RESULTS:The inhibitory effect of PMN on the production of TNF-? in U937 cells was observed. Sodium azide restored the TNF-? production in U937 cells/PMN coculture to the extent of 45% in concentration of about 10～15 ?mol/L. These concentrations of sodium azide did not affect TNF-? production by U937 cells. The restoration effect of sodium azide on PMN inhibition was not related to blocking of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The MPO inhibitors 3-amino-1,2,4,-triazole and 4-aminobenzoyl hydrazide had few effect on PMN inhibition. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that PMN inhibition depended on the cell-cell interactions. Sodium azide may be a useful reagent for further studying this mechanism.

Objective To investigate the early neurotoxicity of rotenone on dopaminergic neurons and explore an ideal tissue model. Methods A long-term midbrain slice culture system of SD pup was established according to the interface tissue culture method.After rotenone was added for some time,its toxic effects on the whole slices and the dopaminergic neurons were identified through the measurements of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) released into the medium from the slices and dopamine(DA) content from the cultured tissue,as well as the observations of immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase(TH). Results In those cultures exposed to rotenone for 24 h,the level of DA in tissue dramatically decreased with the concentrations rising.The processes of TH-positive neurons in slices demonstrated some morphological changes,such as appearance of string of beads,reduce of numbers and even disappearance.The content of dopamine in tissue was dominantly decreased with 5 nmol/L rotenone for 14 days,although its cellular morphology was not seen to change.Conclusion Long-time stable midbrain slice culture system has been set up successfully.The neurotoxicity of rotenone on the whole slices and dopaminergic neurons shows a dose-dependent manner.The functional damages on the neurons may be earlier than their morphological changes,of which the injury in the processes of neurons seems to be an early characteristic.

Intracranial stent implantation induces platelet-monocyte aggregate, regulates activities of monocyte, induces monocyte expression tissue factors, and promotes fibrin deposition in thrombus at vessel injury site, which promotes inflammatory reaction. P substance significantly increases following stent implantation; platelet ? particle-derived soluble CD 40L, which can promote platelet aggregation, also increases after stenting. Flow cytometry, platelet aggregation, soluble platelet activation-related molecule in serum are used to determine platelet activation and aggregation in blood of 30 patients before and after stent implantation from Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of China Medical University, so as to explore blood coagulation reaction characters after intracranial stent implantation

Objective To study the relevance of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) IL- 18 level in patients with chronic HBV infection and the activity of chronic hepatitis B as well as the ex- tent of hepatic tissue inflammation. Methods Flow cytometry was applied to measuring IL-18 level in PBMCs isolated from 147 patients with HBV infection; meanwhile, 22 cases with hepatitis B patients or HBV carriers underwent needling biopsy of liver for liver histopathologic examination. Results IL- 18 level was rising step by step in moderate chronic hepatitis, severe chronic hepatitis, chronic serious hepatitis and acute fatal hepatitis. Elevation of IL-18 level was correlative to the activity of hepatic tis- sue inflammation. Conclusion The expression level of IL-18 is different in various HBV infection states, which is correlative to the activity of chronic hepatitis B as well as the extent of hepatic tissue inflammation. Therefore, IL-18 may be used as an important index of evaluating therapeutic effect and prognosis.

Objective To get the information about the infection condition of blood in voluntary donors in Fuling District from 2001 to 2007, so as to take measures to improve blood quality and ensure blood safety.Methods Serum ALT was detected with Reitman-Frankel assay, and HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and anti-TP were detected with ELISA.Results A total of 72 868 serum samples from blood donors were detected, in which 5 512 (7.56%) were positive. The positive rates of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and anti-TP were 3.09%, 0.48%, 0.07% and 1.27% respectively, and the abnormality rate of ALT was 2.73%. There was statistical difference of positive rate among various years (from 2001 to 2007).Conclusion The positive rate of blood in voluntary donors decreases year by year. HBsAg was the highest (1.16%), followed by ALT (2.73%), anti-TP (1.27%), anti-HCV and anti-HIV. It suggests that blood quality monitoring should be strengthed to assure blood safety.

Objective To investigate the variations of serum levels of visfatin in pregnant women with different types of glucose intolerance and the associations with insulin resistance.metabolic parameters and newborn birth weight.Methods Totally,120 pregnant women in late trimester were divided into 3 groups according to the results of 50 g glucose challenge test(GCT)and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test:GDM group(n=45),GCT(+)group(n=20),and NGT group(n=55).Fasting levels of visfatin,insulin,total cholestrol and triglyceride were measured and the newborn birth weight was recorded.Results The serum visfatin level was significantly elevated in GDM group compared with the NGT group[(374.9±23.1)ng/ml vs(308.9±16.8)ng/ml,P＜0.05],but no significant difference was shown when compared with the GET(+)group[(346.5±23.1)ng/ml].Furthermore,serum visfatin levels had no relationship with insulin resistance,metabolic parameter and newbom birth weight.Conclusions Visfatin is elevated in GDM women and closely related with GDM,but not with insulin resistance,metabolic parameters and newborn birth weight.

Objective To investigate the relativity between morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) and carotid atheresclerosis. Methods Noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) was per-formed on 97 patients with the first and second stage of essential hypertension and according the ABPM re-suits, the patients were classified into MP+ group (31 cases) and MP-group (66 cases). In the meantime, the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the carotid atheresclerotic plaque was examined by the color Doppler ultrasound. The relationship among MBPS, carotid atherosclerotic plaque and IMT was analyzed.Results The IMT of common carotid artery (CCA), carotid artery bifurcation (CAB)and internal carotid artery (ICA) in MP+ group was significantly higher than that in MP- group [ (1.02±0.36)mm vs (0.86±0.22) mm, (1.14±0.39 ) mm vs(0.96±0.26) mm, (0.94±0.30 )mm vs ( 0.82±0.18 mm ), P<0.05 ]. The ratio of carotid atherosclerotie plaque in MP+ group was significantly higher than that in MP- group (64.5% vs 42.4%,P<0.05). Conclusions The MBPS is related to carotid atheroselerotie plaque and the carotid IMT. The MBPS may accelerate the forming and developing of atherosclerosis.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of aspirin resistance in old-aged patients with cerebral infarction and to analyze the mechanisms and clinical predictors of aspirin resistance. Methods 300 old-aged patients with cerebra] infarction were selected and the platelet aggregation ratio was determined by nephelometry with CHRONO-LOG PA-meter. And some information of these patients, such as age, sex, smoking, taking non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAD)or proton pump inhibitor (PPI), obesity, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral vascular disease, hyperpiesia, diabetes and hyperlipemia were recorded. Results 112 cases (37.33%) were aspirin sensitiveness, 108 cases(36.0%) were aspirin semi-resistance and 80 cases (26.67%) were aspirin resistance. These cases were divided into two groups. One was aspirin sensitive (AS) group, which included 112 patients of aspirin sensitiveness. The other was aspirin resistant (AR) group, which consisted of 188 patients of aspirin semi-resistance and aspirin resistance. The prevalence of CAD, hypercho]esteremia and RBC count in AR group was higher than that in AS group The percentage of patients who took NSAD, PPI and smoke in AR group was also higher than that in AS group. Conclusion Aspirin resistance existed in old-aged patients with cerebral infarction to great extent, and which was correlated with CAD, hypercholesteremia, smoking, RBC count, taking NSAD and PPI.