Objective To investigate the effects of mild hypothermia ( MH ) on the expression of my- eloperoxidase(MPO) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) in rats after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (CIR). Methods Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into four control groups (n=6 in each) and four MH groups (n=6 in each).CIR models were established by suture occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery.The rats in the MH groups,but not in the control groups,were treated with MH.Rats were killed at 4 h,8 h,12 h and 16 h after CIR.MPO expression was measured,along with the expression of COX 2 as measured by Western blot- ting and immunohistochemical methods.Results Compared with the control groups,MPO activity and the COX 2 expression in the cortex and striatum were significantly lower in all the MH groups at 4 h,8 h,12 h and 16 h after CIR.Conclusion MH treatment can protect neurons by decreasing MPO activity and COX 2 expression,allevia- ting inflammation and reducing secondary injuries after CIR.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Coopdech bronchial blocker combined with a strengthened single-lumen tube for airway management in patients undergoing upper mediastinal tumor resection. Methods Twenty-two ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients, aged 24-66 yr, weighing 48-78 kg, scheduled for elective resection of upper mediastinal tumor, were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=11 each):double-lumen tube group(groupⅠ) and Coopdech bronchial blocker combined with a strengthened single-lumen tube group(group Ⅱ).One-lung ventilation was achieved with a double-lumen tube in groupⅠ. The Coopdech bronchial blocker combined with a strengthened single-lumen tube was used for airway management and the Coopdech bronchial blocker was used for lung isolation when one-lung ventilation was required in group Ⅱ. The fiberoptic bronchoscope was used to assist endotracheal tube positioning in both groups. The intubation time, positioning time, the number of patients required for tube displacement, the number of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, increase in airway peak pressure, degree of lung collapse, postoperative sore throat and hoarseness, and the number of patients needing ventilator-assisted ventilation were recorded. Results The intubation time was significantly shorter, the number of patients required for tube displacement was significantly smaller,and the rate of increase in airway peak pressure and incidences ofpostoperative sore throat and hoarseness were significantly lower in group Ⅱ than in group Ⅰ (P＜0.05 or0.01). Conclusion The efficacy of the Coopdech bronchial blocker combined with a strengthened single-lumen tube for airway management is better in patients undergoing upper mediastinal tumor resection than the double-lumen tube.

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-inflammatory effect of total saponins of Panax japonicus on LPS-induced RAW264. 7 macrophages.

METHODThe effect of total saponins of P. japonicus of different concentrations on RAW264. 7 cell viability was determined with the MTT method. The NO kit assay was adopted to detect the NO release of total saponins of P. japonicus to LPS-induced RAW264. 7 cells. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1beta). The reverse transeriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) ,TNF-alpha,IL-1beta. The protein expression of nuclear transcription factor-kappaB p65 (NF-kappaB p65) was tested by Western blot.

RESULTThe safe medication range of total saponins of P. japonicus was less than 80 mg x L(-1). Compared with the LPS model group, total saponins of P. japonicus high, middle and low dose groups (0.1, 1, 10, 40 mg x L(-1)) could significantly reduce the secretion of NO, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta of LPS-induced RAW264. 7 cells, and inhibit the expressions of iNOS, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA and the protein expression of NF-kappaB p65.

CONCLUSIONThis study preliminarily proves the protective effect of total saponins of P. japonicus on LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Its action mechanism may be related to NF-kappaB signal pathway.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Nitric Oxide ; immunology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; immunology ; Panax ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology

We investigated the roles of the crude antigen(CA) of Clonorchis sinensis and excretory secretory products (ESPs) in the polarization of Th1 and Th2 cells.Bone marrow-derived cells were generated from BALB/c mice and isolated into immature DCs;immature DCs were then treated with either CA (CA stimulated group),ESPs (ESPs stimulated group),LPS (positive control group) or PBS (negative control group) for 24 hours.Then the CD4+T cells were isolated from mouse spleen by using anti mouse-CD4 Microbeads,and further cocultured with stimulated DCs for another 72 hours.The purities of DCs and CD4+ T cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the expressing levels of T-bet mRNA and GATA-3 mRNA were detected by real-time PCR.ELISA was used to detect the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines in the supernatant.mRNA levels of T-bet and GATA-3 in the ESPs group were higher than those in PBS-stimulated group (P＜0.05).The concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines in the culture were increased in the ESPs group,compared with PBS stimulated group(P＜0.05).IFN-γ but not IL-4 was increased in CA group (P＜0.05).The results implied that CA might play a role in Th1 type immune response,and ESPs likely play roles in both Th1 and Th2 immune responses.

AIM: The present study was designed to examine the effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination on blood pressure, nitric oxide (NO) production and iNOS expression in hypertensive rats. METHODS: Renal hypertension (RH) were made by renal artery stenosis in SD rats and the sodium induced hypertensive (SH) rats were made by feeding the rats with high sodium chloride diet (5 g NaCl/100 g food). After four weeks, the hypertensive animals were subjected to the experiment. All the rats were vaccinated with BCG (0.1 mL, i.d) and blood pressure were examined every week. Greiss reaction was used to measure the urinary NO excretion and Western blot was applied to probe the iNOS protein expression in aortic tissue. RESULTS: It was shown that one week after BCG vaccination, the blood pressure decreased significantly in hypertensive rats induced by NaCl-overloading and renal artery stenosis, but not in normotensive control rats. Furthermore, the hypotensive effect of BCG vaccination was enhanced by co-administration of L-arginine. A significant increase in NO production was observed in hypertensive rats. Also, Western blot showed BCG vaccination led to an obvious increase in iNOS expression in the aortic tissue of hypertensive, but not of normal control rats. CONCLUSION: BCG vaccination could lower the blood pressure of hypertensive rats through activation of iNOS/NO pathway.

Objective The study was designed to compare the ultrasound-guided technique for the cannulation of subclavian vein with the traditional technique using anatomic landmarks.Methods One hundred and twenty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients undergoing cannulation of subclavian vein before gastrp-intestinal tumor resection were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=60 each) according to the technique used for cannulation:ultrasound-guided group (group US) and anatomic landmark group (group AL).The puncture time,successful puncture and complications were recorded.Resulls The success rate was 100% in group US;while the cannulation failed in one patient in group AL.The rate of successful puncture at 1st attempt was 100% in group US but ouly 90% in group AL.The cannulation time was significantly shorter in group US than in group AL.The incidence of accidental puncture of subclavian artery,hematoma and pneumothorax was significantly higher in group AL than in group US.Conclusion The ultrasound-guided catheterization of the subclavian vein is superior to the landmark technique.

ABSTRACT:Objective To explore the changes of serum cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17)in patients with chronic hepatitis B of different clinical types and its clinical significance.Methods We selected 30 cases of mild chronic hepatitis B,34 cases of moderate one,29 cases of severe one,38 cases of liver cirrhosis,and 21 cases of acute on chronic liver failure.Another 30 cases over the same period served as the healthy control group.Cytokine IL-1 7 level in peripheral blood was detected in each group,and all the groups except the control group were detected for liver function and HBV-DNA.These related serum markers were detected and the results were statistically analyzed.Results ① IL-17 in the peripheral blood was (8.103±2.061)ng/mL in healthy control group;(25.551 ±7.078)ng/mL,(45.442±18.358)ng/mL and (75.378±19.05)ng/mL in the groups with mild,moderate and severe chronic hepatitis B;and (97.16±17.066)ng/mL in acute on chronic liver failure group.Its levels gradually increased with the severity;and there were significantly different among the five groups and between every two groups (P<0.01).The peripheral blood level of IL-17 was (8.103±2.061)ng/mL in the healthy control group, (34.517±8.905)ng/mL in compensatory cirrhosis group,and (45.615±15.623)ng/mL in the decompensated cirrhosis group.These three groups had pairwise comparison,and the difference between every two groups was significant (P<0 .0 1 ).The peripheral blood level of IL-1 7 in the decompensated cirrhosis group increased compared with that in the compensatory group.③ In the 1 5 2 cases detected,serum IL-1 7 level and serum ALT,AST,TBIL,HBV-DNA levels were positively correlated,and serum PTA had negative correlation with the level of IL-1 7 .④ In the 2 1 cases of acute on chronic liver failure,the peripheral blood level of IL-1 7 did not significantly differ between antigen-e positive and negative groups (P=0.654).⑤ In 21 patients with chronic on acute liver failure,the level of IL-1 7 in peripheral serum and MELD scores showed a positive correlation by Pearson correlation analysis (r=0.533,P=0.013).Conclusion In patients with chronic hepatitis B,the level of IL-17 in peripheral serum increased with disease severity.Moreover,the level of IL-1 7 in peripheral blood may play a role in promoting the progression of cirrhosis and the development of acute on chronic liver failure.

Objective:Immunoregulation study of umbilical mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSCs) on allogeneic umbilical cord blood(UCB) CD4+T lymphocytes,which proliferation,apoptosis and the differentiation to CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell (Treg) in vitro. Methods:Establishing on direct contact or transwell co-culture system,adopt in different proportion of UCMCs with phytohaemag-glutinin (PHA)-activated UCB CD4+T lymphocytes were co-cultured. The proliferation of lymphocyte,percent of CD4+CD25+/CD4+and Foxp3 expression, regulatory T cell marker gene were measured. Apoptosis of CD4+T lymphocytes were observed in the direct contact or transwell coculture system of UCMSCs with desamethason( DXM)-stimulated UCB CD4+T lymphocytes. Results: The UCB CD4+T lymphocytes cocultured with UCMSCs with PHA-activating for 3 days,compared with the UCMSCs free control group,the amount of cells was reduced noticeably(P<0. 05) and the percent of CD4+CD25+in CD4+T lymphocytes and Foxp3 expression significantly in-creased(P<0. 01) in a dose dependent way(P<0. 05). The UCB CD4+T lymphocytes cocultured with UCMSCs with DXM-inducing for 7 days,the apoptosis rate was significantly lower than that of the control group without UCMSCs (P<0. 01). These effects were partially attenuated in transwell coculture but could not be eliminated. Conclusion: UCMSCs are negative effect on UCB CD4+T lymphocytes-mediated immunity effects,and mainly manifested in the regulation on cell proliferate ability and differentiation rather than promoting apoptosis.

AIM: The present study was designed to examine the effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination on blood pressure, nitric oxide (NO) production and iNOS expression in hypertensive rats. METHODS: Renal hypertension (RH) were made by renal artery stenosis in SD rats and the sodium induced hypertensive (SH) rats were made by feeding the rats with high sodium chloride diet (5 g NaCl/100 g food). After four weeks, the hypertensive animals were subjected to the experiment. All the rats were vaccinated with BCG (0 1 mL, i.d) and blood pressure were examined every week. Greiss reaction was used to measure the urinary NO excretion and Western blot was applied to probe the iNOS protein expression in aortic tissue. RESULTS: It was shown that one week after BCG vaccination, the blood pressure decreased significantly in hypertensive rats induced by NaCl-overloading and renal artery stenosis, but not in normotensive control rats. Furthermore, the hypotensive effect of BCG vaccination was enhanced by co-administration of L-arginine. A significant increase in NO production was observed in hypertensive rats. Also, Western blot showed BCG vaccination led to an obvious increase in iNOS expression in the aortic tissue of hypertensive, but not of normal control rats. CONCLUSION: BCG vaccination could lower the blood pressure of hypertensive rats through activation of iNOS/NO pathway. [

Objective To reinvestigate the value of overnight low-dose dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.Methods Fifty-two patients with Cushing syndrome and 153 patients with simple obesity or essential hypertension in whom Cushing syndrome was excluded were studied retrospectively in order to compare the sensitivity and specificity of different serum cortisol cut-off levels in overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.Results The sensitivity of 50% of basal serum cortisol level at 8:00 and of the serum cortisol cut-off levels of 275,200,138,50 nmoL/L at 8:00 after the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test was 92.3%,92.3%,92.3%,92.3% and 100.0% respectively, and the specificity was 90.8%,98.7%,96.1%,91.5% and 78.4%,respectively.Conclusion The serum cortisol cut-off level of 50 nmol/L in the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test has very high sensitivity and can be used as a screening test for Cushing syndrome.