AIM To study mechanism of endothelin (ET) on canine pulmonary veins. METHODS The isometric tension of pulmonary venous strips was recorded. RESULTS ET 3 and IRL1640 produced contraction in pulmonary venous strips. ET 3 induced contraction was markedly suppressed by BQ123 (P

Objective To investigate the characteristics and risk factors of hospital infection in elderly patients with acute leukemia and provide basis for its prevention and treatment. Methods The hospital infection rate,infection sites,pathogenic bacteria and infectious factors of 116 elderly patients with acute leukemia between January 1999 and January 2008 were analyzed retrospectively,and compared with groups of non-elderly patients in the corresponding period. Results The incidence of hospital infection [62.9 %(73/116)]and death[52.1 %(38/116)]in elderly patients were higher than that of non-elderly ones (P <0.01). The most commonly infective sites were oral cavity and respiratory system. The multiple and serious infection in elderly patients was more than that of non-elderly noes. The common pathogenic bacteria were mainly grant-negative one. The results of multivariate aralysis showed that the absolute neutrophil count in peripheral blood,cycles of chemotherapy,latest infections,stages of treatment,length of hospitalization and seasons on hospitalization were found as independent risk factors for hospital infection in elderly patients with acute leukemia. Conclusion The incidence of hospital infection and death in elderly patients was high. The absolute neutrophil count in peripheral blood,cycles of chemotherapy,latest infections,stages of treatment,length of hospitalization and seasons on hospitalization are independent risk factors for elderly patients with acute leukemia.

Objective To investigate various factors influencing long-term survival of the patients with APL. Methods The clinical data of 62 cases with APL were analyzed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the potential factors influencing survival and prognosis were carried out with Log-Rank and Cox regression method, including sex, age, initial WBC count, initial Plt count, the level of LDH,first induction regimen, length from induction therapy to CR, and post-remission therapy. Results 62 cases were followed up for 6 to 102 months. 5-year OS and relapse-free survival (RFS) were (77.1±6.2)% and (71.4± 3.68)%, respectively.Univariate analysis revealed that initial WBC count, first induction regimen, length from induction therapy to CR and post-remission therapy were important prognostic factors for long-term survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that initial WBC count and post-remission therapy were associated with RFS and OS. Conclusion The post-remission therapy combining ATRA, As2O3 and chemotherapy would significantly improve the long-term survival of APL patients entering CR.

Objective: To analyze the changes of chemical ingredients before and after compatibility of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (ALRP) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (GRRPM), and to explore the possible mechanism of toxicity attenuation of their compatibility. Methods: The chemical ingredients in the decoction of ALRP and the decoction of compatibility of ALRP and GRRPM were comparatively researched by HPLC-MS. Single decoction of ALRP and compound decoction of compatibility of ALRP and GRRPM were prepared, and their HPLC-MS fingerprints were respectively established and determined by Q-TOF/MS under the same condition. Results: Twenty ingredients and their structures were identified from single decoction of ALRP; 32 ingredients and their structures were indentified from the decoction of ALRP and GRRPM, among them 4 from GRRPM, 28 from ALRP. And the alkaloid categories and contents of ALRP were significantly different before and after the compatibility with GRRPM. Conclusion: The compatibility with GRRPM could change the alkaloid composition in ALRP, which provides the experimental evidences for the toxicity attenuation mechanism of compatibility of ALRP and GRRPM.

Objective To investigate the related risk factors and neonatal outcomes in early preterm birth by analysis of 198 cases of early-to-moderate preterm birth. Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted on 198 pregnant women hospitalized during January 2004 to September 2006 with early-to-moderate preterm birth who delivered at 28 to 33+6 weeks of gestational age and their preterm infants.All of them were divided into two groups: early preterm birth group,28 to 3l+6 weeks of gestational age,n=90 for the pregnant women and n= 99 for the preterm infants;moderate preterm birth group,32 to 33+6 weeks of gestational age,n=108 for the pregnant women and n=122 for the preterm infants(fatal birth defects were excepted).The risk factors for preterm birth and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results Various factors contributed to the occurrence of preterm birth.Systemic antenatal care and weight gain during pregnancy were significantly less found in the early preterm birth group than the moderate preterm birth group(P

Objective To analyze the clinical and immunological manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome(APS)in a cohort of 100 patients.Methods The clinical and serologic features of APS(Sapporo preliminary criteria)in 100 patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results The cohort consisted of 79 female patients and 21 male patients witb a mean age of 36?13 years at diagnosis.Primary APS was presented in 37% of patients;APS was secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)in 46%,lupus-like syndrome in 14%. Eighty percent of the patients had thrombosis,43(54%)patients had venous thrombosis,18(22%)had arterial thrombosis,15(19%)had both arterial and venous thrombosis.4(5%)had thrombosis of microcirculation. Forty-two(52%)patients presented thrombosis at a single site,26(32%)at two sites,12(15%)at three or more sites.Forty-five(56%)patients experienced one thrombotic episode,20(25%)patients had only one re- currence,and 15(19%)had more thrombosis.The most common manifestations of thrombosis were deep vein thrombosis(36%),pulmonary embolism(30%)and stroke(26%),with heart,kidney,gastrointestinal tract and other organs involvements.Thirty-four(51%)female patients had spontaneous fetal losses including intrauter- ine fetus death and recurrent spontaneous abortion.Seventy-one(71%)patients developed thromboeytopenia. The presence of antieardiolipin antibody(ACL)was detected in 84 patients(84%).Among 90 patients with APS,alone ACL was detected in 38 patients(42%),both ACL and lupus anticoagulant(LA)were detected in 36(40%),LA alone in 16(18%).Patients with APS associated with SLE or lupus-like syndrome had higher frequency of arthritis,leukopenia,antinuclear antibodies(ANA)and low complement levels.Female patients had a higher frequency of leukopenia,ANA and ACL.Male patients had a higher prevalence of deep venous thrombosis in the lower limbs and LA.Conclusion APS is an autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent arterial and venous thrombosis,fetal loss,or thrombocytopenia with the presence of ACL and/or LA.In APS secondary to with SLE,the patient's sex can modify the disease expression and define specific subsets of APS.

Objective To explore the protective mechanism of tea polyphenols (TPs) ion oxidative stress damage of the rat articular cartilage tissue caused by brick-tea fluorosis. Methods One hundred and twenty wistar male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to body mass: fluoride group with drinking water containing 100.00 mg/L F-, fluoride plus TPs group treated with 100.00 mg/L F- and 10.0 g/L TPs, fluoride plus aluminum group fed with 100.00 mg/L F- and 200.00 mg/L Al3+, fluoride plus aluminium and TPs group treated with 100.00 mg/L F-,200.O0 mg/L Al3+ and 10.0 g/L TPs;brick-tea group treated with drinking water containing 100.00 mg/L F-,215.00 mg/L Al3+ and 9.2 g/L TPs, which was steeped by the brick-tea;control group treated with tap water. The animals were bred for three months and then sacrificed. The level of SOD,T-AOC and MDA in blood serum were detected,also the level of NO and cytokine IL-1β and IL-6, the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein in articular cartilage were respectively analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results Blood serum SOD level in the fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group[(664.009 ± 29.589)kU/L] was higher compared with that in the fluoride group[(625.328 ± 27.199)kU/L], fluoride plus aluminum group[(652.282±13.926)kU/L], although no statistically significant differences was found(P > 0.05) ;blood serum T-AOC level of the fluoride plus TPs, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick tea group[(10.874 ± 0.721), (11.871 ± 0.941), (10.380 ± 2.747)kU/L] was higher compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group [(8.849 ± 1.887), (8.210 ± 1.740)kU/L], the differences all being statistically significant(P < 0.05) ;blood serum MDA level in the fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group[(3.235 ± 0.446)μmol/L] had significances compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group [(3.889 ± 0.387), (4.580 ± 0.474)μmol/L, all P < 0.05)];blood serum NO level in fluoride plus Tps group, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick-tea group[(23.278 ± 2.386), (20.643 ± 2.623), (24.367 ± 6.072) μmol/L] had tatistical differences compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group[(32.962 ± 8.268), (34.909 ± 6.288)μmol/L, all P < 0.05];blood serum IL-1β level of fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum, fluoride plus Tps, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group and brick-tea group [(4.728 ± 0.297), (4.412 ± 0.229), (4.432 ± 0.285), (4.516 ± 0.351), (4.614 ±0.2270)n/L] did not have inter-group differences (F = 2.314,P > 0.05);the blood serum IL-6 level of fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick-tea group[(7.231 ± 0.596), (7.325 ± 0.290)ng/L] had statistical differences compared with fluoride plus aluminum[(8.256 ± 0.635)ng/L, P < 0.05]. The iNOS mRNA correspondent expression content of fluoride plus Tps group, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick-tea group(0.482 ± 0.021,0.447±0.021,0.491 ± 0.022) had statistical differences compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group (0.562 ± 0.025,0.591 ± 0.020, all P < 0.05). Cells with positive iNOS protein expression of control group were mainly distributed at the surface layer of joint, while the cells of experiment groups were distributed both at the surface layer and the intermediate layer. Conclusions Tea polyphenols could alleviate oxidative stress damage on the articular cartilage, exerting protection against brick-tea fluorosis on rats through cleaning up free radicals, elevating total anti-oxidation capability, diminishing the generation of lipid peroxide.

The reproduction of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus in the midgut epithelia cells and the other sensitive tissues was observed by electron microscopy. The reproducing viruses in the midgut epithelia cells were mostly without envelopes, and thte polyhedrons were seldom formed. The reproduciing viruses in the other sensitive cells were with envelopes, and packed in polyhedrons.

Background Research showed that transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) promotes scar formation.But its mechanism in scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery is worthy of studying.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of TGF-β2 on myofibroblast transition of human Tenon fibroblasts (HTFs) and scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery.Methods Tenon capsular tissue was obtained from 3 patients with strabismus during the surgery and was incubated in DMEM with 10％ fetal bovine serum (FBS).The cells were collected and passaged in the free-serum medium for 24 hours,and then 1,2,5,10,20 μg/L TGF-β2 was added into the medium respectively,to induce the transformation of HTFs,and 2 μg/L or 5 μg/L TGF-β2 was used to treat the HTFs for 6,24,48 and 72 hours.The control group was not treated with TGF-β2.The expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and phosphorylation of the signaling proteins (pSmad2) in HTFs were detected by Western blot assay.The expressions of α-SMA and F-actin were located by cell immunofluorescine technique under the confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.Cell contractility was determined by collagen gel contraction assays.This study was approved by Ethic Committee of Institute of Surgery Research of Daping Hospital,and informed consent was obtained from each patient or custodian initial of the study.Results The expression of α-SMA protein in the HTFs was increased significantly after the treatment of TGF-β2 in comparison with the control group and reached a peak at 24-48 hours.The α-SMA expression was gradually weakened in the 10 μg/L TGF-β2 groups.Little of α-SMA and F-actin were expressed in the control group.However,strong staining for α-SMA and F-actin were observed in the 1,2 and 5 μg/L TGF-β2 groups and then the staining weakened at the concentration of 10 μg/L.In addition,pSmad2 showed a stronger expression in the 2 μg/L TGF-β2 group than that in the PBS group and FBS group,with the strongest expression in 30 minutes through 2 hours.The untreated gel contracted (78.00±3.13)％ from its initial size,and contraction in the 1,2,5,10 μg/L TGF-β2 group were (63.88±1.78)％,(20.69±0.65)％,(19.49-±0.54)％,(16.24±0.84) ％,respectively,TGF-β2 increased HTFs contraction significantly (Fgroup =859.400,P =0.000).Conclusions TGF-β2 can induce transdifferentiation of Tenon fibroblast into myofibroblast and increase cell contractility,with a concentration-dependent and time-dependent pattern to an extent.It may be the mechanism of scar formation after glaucoma filter surgery.

Objective To study the morphological characteristics of craniofacial contour in ageing.Methods Craniofacial morphology was examined in a sample of 20 young men and 20 old men.By multi-slice helical CT,a computer reconstruction technique was used to produce three dimensional images and 3-D reconstruction data were analyzed quantitatively.Results Compared with the young men,old men increased with midface(Zy-Zy),lower face(Go-Go),supraorbital projection(Fb-Sr,T-So),midface depth (N-Po),and lower facial depth(T-Gn),and decreased with maxillary height(N-Sd) and upper facial width(Ft-Ft,T-T).Conclusion Facial width and depth and supraorbital projection tend to be increased and facial height decreased with ageing.