Aim To study the role of TNF-α/NF-κB signaling in matrix metalloproteinase ( MMP)-9 expres-sion induced by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) in airway epithelial cells, and to investigate the effects of lenti-virus mediated RNAi targeting a disintegrin and metal-loproteinase 17 ( ADAM17 ) gene on MMP-9 expression induced by LPS. Methods The ADAM17 siRNA ex-pression vector was constructed, and packaged to re-combinant lentivirus in 293T cells. The HBE4-E6/E7 cells were pretreated for 30 min by NF-κB inhibitor ( PDTC) and a recombinant human TNFR p75-Fc fu-sion protein ( Etanercept) , or infected by the recombi-nant lentivirus for 72 h, and then stimulated for 24 h by LPS or TNF-α. The release of TNF-α was detected by ELISA. The mRNA and protein levels of MMP-9 were analyzed respectively by RT-PCR and Western blot. NF-κB activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results LPS and TNF-α signifi-cantly increased MMP-9 mRNA and protein expressions and the activation of NF-κB in HBE4-E6/E7 cells ( P<0. 05 ) . Etanercept and PDTC significantly inhibited MMP-9 expression and the activation of NF-κB induced by LPS ( P<0. 05 ) . Lentivirus mediated RNAi targe-ting ADAM17 significantly decreased TNF-α produc-tion, inhibited MMP-9 mRNA and protein expressions and the activation of NF-κB induced by LPS in HBE4-E6/E7 cells ( P <0. 05 ) . Lentivirus mediated RNAi targeting ADAM17 did not inhibit MMP-9 mRNA and protein expressions and the activation of NF-κB in-duced by TNF-α ( P>0. 05 ) . And PDTC significantly inhibited MMP-9 mRNA and protein expressions and the activation of NF-κB induced by TNF-α ( P <0. 05 ) . Conclusions TNF-α/NF-κB signaling partic-ipates in the regulation of MMP-9 expression induced by LPS in airway epithelial cells, and lentivirus-media-ted RNAi targeting ADAM17 plays an important role in that signaling pathway upstream by regulating TNF-αrelease.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of phosphorylated protein kinase R-like ER kinase(p-PERK) and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP) after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage ( HIBD) . Methods Neonatal 7-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into sham-operation control group and HIBD group( n=30 per group) . Each group was divided into 0 h,6 h and 24 h subgroup after operation ( n=10 per group) . The ratio of apoptosis of brain cell was measured by flow cytometer and the expression of p-PERK and CHOP were detected by Western blot. Results (1)Apoptosis cell appeared at 6 h in HIBD group,the ratio of cell apoptosis was(2. 17 ± 0. 19)%. The apoptosis cell obvious increased at 24 h,the ratio of cell apoptosis was(13. 42 ± 0. 83)%. There was a significant increase in the ratio of apoptosis after HIBD 6 h and 24 h, as compared with sham-operation control group [ ( 0. 57 ± 0. 06 )%( P <0. 01 ) ] . ( 2 ) The expression of both p-PERK and CHOP was very low in sham-operation control group. In the HIBD group,the expression of both p-PERK and CHOP began to increase at 6 h and increased furthermore at HIBD 24 h. The differences in the expression levels of p-PERK and CHOP in HIBD group among different time points were significant( P<0. 01 ) . ( 3 ) The expression of p-PERK positively correlated with the expression of CHOP (r=0. 997,P< 0. 05). Conclusion With the emerging of apoptosis after HIBD,the expression of both p-PERK and CHOP increases. The imbalance in the expression of PERK induces the apoptosis of brain cells in the HIBD of neonatal rats by regulation of CHOP expression.

Objective The discovery of microRNA (miRNA) in maternal serum has opened up new possibilities for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.However,our understanding of these pregnancy-related miRNA in the serum of pregnant women with fetuses with neural tube defects (NTDs) is still limited.This article is to study the dysregulated expression of microRNA-423 (miR-423) in the serum of pregnant women with neural tube defect(NTD) fetuses and its potential role as a biomarker for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal NTD.Methods Thirty-three pregnant women whose fetuses were diagnosed as neural tube defects by ultrasound (22 cases of spina bifida and 11 cases of anencephaly)and 33 normal pregnant women were selected.Peripheral venous blood of each pregnant woman was obtained early in the morning,the serum was purified from blood by centrifugation,then total RNA was isolated from serum and the miR-423 levels were detected by real-time RT-PCR.The ROC curve was used for assessing the diagnostic accuracy of miR-423 for fetal NTD.Results We revealed miR-423 with signifcant down-regulation in expression in serum of pregnant women with NTD fetuses (0.96 ±0.14) compared as women with normal pregnancies(2.28 ±0.43) (P ＜0.05).We performed ROC analysis of data from the 33 case-control pairs.The expression of miR-423 could distinguish NTD cases from normal controls,with an AUC of 0.711 (95 ％ CI:0.566 ～ 0.856) (P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,the expression of miR423 decreased only in serum of pregnant women with anencephaly fetuses(0.58 ±0.08)by the analysis in different forms of NTD.Conclusion miR-423 is deregulated in the serum of pregnant women with NTD fetuses and highlight the clinical potential of miR-423 as biomarker for diagnosis and prognostication of fetal NTD.

Agmatine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Analgesia ; methods ; Animals ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for rational use of TCM injections. METHODS:Among the inpatients who used TCM injections in 4 hospitals of Shanghai Jiading district in 2013,100 cases were collected by systematic sampling in each hospital separately, and the data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS:The varieties and amount of TCM injections for blood-activating and stasis-resolving both occupied the first place. 22% inpatients used two or more TCM injections at the same time. The proportion of overdose use of TCM injections reached 54.55%. The type of unreasonable drug use mainly included drug use against differentiation of syndromes,super indications drugs and solvent error. Combined use of TCM injections with same ef-fect accounted for 20.45% of combined use of TCM injections. CONCLUSIONS:It is effective means to improve rational drug use that great impertance paid for clinical use of TCM injections.

Objective To investigate the association between nutrition and peripheral artery disease (PAD) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.Methods One hundred and two stable CAPD patients from a single center were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.Automatic ankle-brachial index (ABI) measuring system was applied to examine ABI.Patients were divided into PAD group (ABI ＜ 0.9) and non-PAD group (ABI≥0.9).Clinical data were collected.Biochemical parameters were detected.Nutritional status was evaluated by serum albumin,handgrip strength (HGS) and subjective global assessment (SGA).Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association of PAD with each nutritional marker as well as other potential risk factors.Results The incidence of PAD was 23.53％ (24/102).ABI was significantly lower in patients with malnutrition as compared to those without malnutrition [(0.72 ± 0.21) vs (1.04 ± 0.14),P＜0.01].Compared with non-PAD patients,serum albumin (P ＜ 0.01),HGS (P ＜ 0.01),diastolic blood pressure (P ＜ 0.05),serum creatine (P ＜ 0.05)、blood urine nitrogen (P ＜ 0.01) were significantly decreased,but age (P ＜ 0.01),the incidence of malnutrition [SGA,P ＜ 0.01],diabetic status (P ＜ 0.01),cardiovascular disease history (P ＜ 0.01) were significantly increased in PAD patients.Logistic regression analysis showed that serum albumin (OR=0.762,95％ CI:0.611-0.948,P=0.015),HGS (OR=0.988,95％ CI:0.979-0.997,P=0.013) were independent protective factors for PAD,malnutrition [(SGA),OR=21.101,95％ CI:5.008-88.901,P＜0.01] was independent risk factor for PAD in CAPD patients.Conclusions The PAD incidence of CAPD patients in our center is 23.53％.Nutrition is independent factor associated with PAD in CAPD patients.

The present is aimed at identifying the activation of TRAFs in n asopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in vitro. The differential expression of TRAF2\,TRAF3 was not detected in RN A and protein level, whereas the expression of TRAF1 in HNE2-LMP1 cell lines wa s much more abundant than that in HNE2 cell lines, suggesting that TRAF1 may be an inducible molecule; More importantly, TRAF1, TRAF2 or TRAF3 were activated in the HNE2-LMP1 cells, whereas TRAF1, TRAF2 or TRAF3 were not activated in HNE2 cells as detected by the immunoprecipitation-Western blotting assay. These data provide an experimental basis for our study beginning from the signal transduca tion pathway for the eluccidation of the mechanism of LMP1 carcinogenesis in NP C.

Objective To investigate the causes of arterial reocclusion in diabetic feet patients after endovascular treatment and its remedial measures.Methods From January 2009 to October 2013,clinical data of 371 arterial reocclusion of diabetic feet patients after endovascular treatment in Tianjin First Central Hospital were reviewed retrospectively.We summarized the causes of reocclusion,treatment methods and the short term results.Results According to the Trans-Alantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) Ⅱ grading standards,the first time when the endovascular treatment started there were 37 cases of grade A,85 cases of grade B,143 cases of grade C,106 cases of grade D.Arterial re-occlusion developed from one day to 36 months,averaging at (21 ± 8) months.Causes of re-occlusion included intimal hyperplasia in 263 cases (70.9％),thrombosis in 65 cases (17.5％),dissection in 19 cases (5.1％),stent fracture in 17 cases (4.6％),vascular rupture in 7 cases (1.9％).Remedial therapy adopted for arterial reocclusion was repeated endovascular treatment in 327 cases (88.1％),arterial bypass surgery in 23 cases (6.2％),conservative treatment in 13 cases (3.5％),amputation (cut toe) in 4 cases (1.1％),4 cases (1.1％) died perioperatively.275 cases were followed up for 1 to 36 months,the average was (13 ± 8) months.patency rate was 82.9％,71.3％ and 63.0％ at 6 months,1 year and 2 years.Amputation rate was 1.1％,1.8％ and 2.5％ at 6 months,1 year and 2 years.Conclusions Intimal hyperplasia is to blame for arterial reocclusion after endovascular treatment of diabetic foot.In this case most patients still can benefit from second time endovascular treatment,with a satisfactory short term patency rate.

Objective To investigate the effect of motor imagery therapy based on mirror neuron theory on the motor function and gait in stroke survivors.Methods Forty-nine stroke survivors were randomly divided into a treatment group (n =24) and a control group (n =25) using a random number table.All the patients in both groups were given similar conventional rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the patients in the treatment group were given motor imagery training based on mirror neuron theory once a day for 20 min each time,5 days a week,lasting 8 weeks.The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),Functional Ambulation Categories (FACs),average step length,the percentage of time spent on the intact foot and the paralyzed foot,and 6 minute walking distance were used to evaluate the subjects' motor function and gait before and after 8 weeks of treatment.Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of any of the measurements.At the end of the 8 weeks of treatment all measurements in both groups had significantly improved compared with before training.The averages of all the measures were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusions Motor imagery training based on mirror neuron theory can improve the motor function and gait of stroke survivors.

Objective To identify two suspected Legionella pneumophila (L.pneumophila) strains isolated from environmental water and air conditioning cooling water systems in Guangzhou city.Methods The two strains were identified by their cultural characteristics,biochemical test,Legionella-specific primer PCR identification,PCR-enzymatic digestion analysis,16S rRNA,mip and rpoB gene sequencing analysis.Results The two suspected L.pneumophila isolates were identified as gram-negative bacillus appeared as white colonies on BCYEα-agar after incubation for 48 hours at 36℃.Both isolates were positive for oxidase,gelatinase and hydrolysis of hippurate,and negative for urease activity and nitrate reduction.Their phenotypic characteristics were similar to those of L.pneumophila strains.Results of PCR identification by using Legionella-specific primer were positive.Enzymatic digestion analysis showed that the 226 bp PCR products of two isolates were not digested by Taa Ⅰ.The two strains were classified as Legionella busanensis as indicated by gene sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA,mip and rpoB gene.Conclusion Two L.busanensis strains were first isolated from environmental and air conditioning cooling water systems in China.Due to their biochemical characteristics,L.busanensis strains were commonly misidentified as L.pneumophila,but could be effectively identified by PCR-enzymatic digestion analysis and multiple genes identification.