AIM:To investigate the impact of palmitate-stimulated macrophages on the invasion and migration of HepG2 cells and to explore the underlying mechanism .METHODS:Human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 were induced to macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate and were stimulated with palmitate (0.16 mmol/L).The culture supernatants were collected and used to incubate HepG 2 cells.The effect of palmitate on migration of the macrophages was detected by Transwell chamber assay .The mRNA expression of target genes was measured by RT-qPCR.The invasion and migration of the HepG 2 cells were assessed by invasion assay and scratch test .RESULTS:Palmitate promoted the migra-tion of the macrophages and increased the mRNA levels of interleukin -1β( IL-1β) , interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) , tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the macrophages.The invasion and migration of the HepG2 cells incubated with conditioned media from palmitate-stimulated macrophages were greater than those of the HepG 2 cells incubated with conditioned media from macrophages without palmitate .The media of palmitate-stimulated macrophages up-regulated the mRNA expression of cytokines and N-cadherin, and down-regulated the mRNA expression of E-cadherin in the HepG2 cells.CONCLUSION:Palmitate-stimulated macrophages promote the invasion and migration of HepG 2 cells through paracrine/endcrine loop.

Aflatoxins produced primarily by two closely related fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, are mutagenic and carcinogenic in animals and humans. Of many approaches investigated to manage aflatoxin contamination, biological control method has shown great promise. Numerous organisms, including bacteria, yeasts and nontoxigenic fungal strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus, have been tested for their ability in controlling aflatoxin contamination. Great successes in reducing aflatoxin contamination have been achieved by application of nontoxigenic strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus in fields of cotton, peanut, maize and pistachio. The nontoxigenic strains applied to soil occupy the same niches as the natural occurring toxigenic strains. They, therefore, are capable of competing and displacing toxigenic strains. In this paper, we review recent development in biological control of aflatoxin contamination.
Aflatoxins ; biosynthesis ; toxicity ; Animals ; Aspergillus ; growth & development ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Aspergillus flavus ; growth & development ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Food Contamination ; prevention & control ; Herbicides ; Humans ; Pest Control, Biological ; methods ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo assess the significance of platelet activation in unstable angina pectoris (UA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to explore the relationship of clinical effect of Xuefu Zhuyu concentrated pill (XCP) in vivo and the serum pharmacological anti-platelet activating effect of XCP in vitro.

METHODSBy flow cytometry and special labelled antibodys to detect the whole blood platelet membranous glycoprotein CD62P and CD41/45 expressions in UA patients before and after XCP treatment, as well as those in peripheral blood of AMI rats before and after co-cultured with XCP containing serum from patients at 37 degrees C for 30 min.

RESULTSCD62P and CD41/45 expressions increased significantly in UA patients to 24.36 +/- 7.91% and 29.51 +/- 12.21% respectively. After effective treatment, they decreased to 19.57 +/- 7.22% and 20.87 +/- 8.73% respectively accompanied with increase of platelet adhesion and aggregation rate. The difference of CD62P before and after treatment was significant (P < 0.05). CD62P in blood of AMI rats was 39.73 +/- 12.36%, after being co-cultured with XCP containing serum from patients treated effectively, it reduced to 30.41 +/- 10.36% (P < 0.05), but after co-cultured with the serum from patients treated ineffectively, it showed less intervention effect (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPlatelet was highly activated in UA patients and AMI rats. The consistency between clinical holistic effect of XCP and serum pharmacological effect of XCP in platelet activation inhibition reflects a good correlation between serum pharmacological effect of Chinese herbal medicine and its clinical holistic effect.

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Platelet Activation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This paper discussed the current status of hearing aids fitting practitioners in China and proposed some proposals on how to cultivate qualified practitioners.The proposals includes setting up short-term training program,launching hearing aids fitting major in occupational schools and cultivating the hearing aids fitting practitioners from the would-be audiologists or otologists in an aim to meet the urgent hearing aids fitting need of Chinese deafness.

This study seeks to explore the early signs of cognitive impairment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). According to polysomnography, twenty patients diagnosed with OSAHS and twenty normal controls underwent event-related potential (ERP) examination including mismatch negativity (MMN) and P300. Compared with normal controls, OSAHS patients showed significantly prolonged latency of MMN and P300 at Cz. After controlling age and body mass index (BMI), MMN latency positively correlated with apnea hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen reduction index, stage N1 sleep and arousal index, while MMN latency negatively correlated with stage N3 sleep and mean blood oxygen saturation; and P300 latency positively related to AHI and oxygen reduction index; no relationships were found among MMN latency, MMN amplitude, P300 latency and P300 amplitude. These results suggest that the brain function of automatic processing and controlled processing aere impaired in OSAHS patients, and these dysfunction are correlated with nocturnal repeatedly hypoxemia and sleep structure disturbance.
Case-Control Studies ; Cognition Disorders ; complications ; physiopathology ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Oximetry ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; physiopathology ; Sleep Stages

The chromatographic fingerprint was established by eluting with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid water on an Agilent TC-C18 (2) column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Six chromatographic peaks were identified by HPLC-MS/MS method. Ten batches of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were determined, and the similarity was arranged from 0.72 to 0.99. Good precision, stability and repeatability were obtained, and this study provides a reference for the quality control of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of brachial-ankle artery pulse wave velocity (baPWv) in patients of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: A total of 86 consecutive dyspnoea patients without coronary artery diseases (CAD) were studied and they were divided into 2 groups: HFpEF group,n=46 and Control group, the patients had no organic heart disease,n=40. The incremental diagnostic value of HFpEF by baPWv improving the echocardiographic index and plasma BNP level was assessed by logistic regression model, receiver operation curve (ROC) of multi-parameter combination and net reclassiifcation index analysis. Results: Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis presented that the ratio of early mitral inlfow velocity to tissue Doppler velocity at the lateral mitral annulus, BNP level and baPWv had the independent predictive value for HFpEF diagnosis, P<0.05. The ROC for baPWv with the combination of 2 or 3 parameters was better than the ROC for a single parameter, P<0.05. The baPWv added with 2007 ESC consensus statement signiifcantly improved HFpEF diagnosis, NRI = 0.127,P<0.05. Conclusion: The baPWv combining with current diagnostic criteria could increase the diagnostic value in patients of HFpEF.

Objective:To treat the mixed and deeper infantile hemangioma with ladder dosage propranolol, and to explore its efficacy and safety.Methods:A total of 98 infants with hemangioma were treated by ladder treatment of propranolol.Before treatment,comprehensive assessments of electrocardiogram(ECG),heart color ultrasound, blood glucose,liver function,kidney function,myocardial enzymes and blood routine were conducted.After excluding contraindications,the dose of propranolol incrementally doubled from 0.5 mg·kg-1·d-1 to 4.0 mg·kg-1·d-1.Propranolol was taken 3 times a day.Before and after medication for 1 and 2 h,ECG was monitored.The changes of tumor size,texture,color and other changes or an onset of adverse reactions were dynamicly observed.The infants were visited every month.The efficacy was evaluated using Achauer system.Results: After medication,98 cases had different degrees of color changes or tumor consistency softening.After the dosage of propranolol was increased to 4.0 mg·kg-1·d-1,the change of tumor was the fastest.According to the 4-grade method, there were 84 cases(85.71%) as gradeⅣ (excellent),2 cases (2.04%) as grade Ⅲ (good),4 cases (4.08%) as gradeⅡ (medium)and 8 cases (8.16%) as gradeⅠ (poor).The curative effect of mixed hemangioma was better than that of deeper hemangioma(P<0.05).The recovery time of 74 cases of hemangiomas was 6 months.The major adverse reactions were heart rate decline(5/98,5.10%),drowsiness(3/98,3.06%),diarrhea(7/98,7.14%),loss of appetite (1/98,1.02%), and convulsions (2/98,2.04%).After treatment,all adverse reactions disappeared.Two months after drug withdrawal there were 4 cases of recurrence,and they were continously treated with propranolol.Conclusion: The efficacy of oral ladder dosage propranolol in treatment of mixed and deeper infantile hemangioma is increased significantly and there are no significant adverse reactions.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the level of circulating CD133+/KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods Inpatients with first-ever ischemic stroke within 24 hfrom the onset and age-and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study.The demographic and clinical data of the patients were collected.The level of CD133+/KDR+ EPCs was detected by flow cytometry.All patients were followed up at 90 d.The modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the clinical outcome,0-2 was defined as good outcome and >2 was defined as poor outcome.Results A total of 126 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke within 24 hfrom the onset and 60 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled.In patients with ischemic stroke,33 (26.19%) were large artery atherosclerosis (LAA),74 (58.73%) were small artery occlusion (SAO),19 (15.08%) were cardioembolism (CE);82 (65.08%) had good outcomes and 44 (34.92%) had poor outcomes.The number of circulating EPCs at baseline in patients of the LAA subtype (0.071%±0.018%),CE subtype (0.068%±0.16%) and SAO subtype (0.118%±0.12%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.246%±0.052%;all P<0.05),and the CE subtype (P=0.028) and LAA subtype (P=0.037) were significantly lower than the SAO subtype;the CE subtype was lower than the LAA subtype,but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.762).The proportions of patients with LAA subtype (40.91% vs.18.29%;χ2=7.577,P=0.006) and CE subtype (29.55% vs.7.32%;χ2=11.049,P=0.001) and atrial fibrillation (29.55% vs.10.98%;χ2=6.582,P=0.009),and age (69.64±9.62 years vs.61.12±7.31 years;t=5.570,P<0.001),and baseline NIHSS score (14.16±4.22 vs.6.96±2.04;t=12.919,P<0.001),baseline systolic blood pressure (176.06±13.42 mmHg vs.164.12±11.69 mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa;t=5.187,P<0.001),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.92±0.52 mmol/L vs.2.49±0.36 mmol/L;t=5.447,P<0.001),fasting blood glucose (8.76±2.88 mmol/L vs.6.82±2.24 mmol/L;t=4.185,P<0.001),C-reactive protein (7.62±1.82 mg/L vs.4.57±1.58 mg/L;t=9.790,P<0.001),and D-dimer (1.14±0.08 mg/L vs.0.97±0.22 mg/L;t=4.946,P<0.001) levels in the poor outcome group were significantly higher than those in the good outcome group,while the proportion of the SAO subtype patients (29.55% vs.74.39%;χ2=23.759,P<0.001),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.94±0.68 mmol/L vs.1.16±0.14 mmol/L;t=2.829,P=0.005),and baseline EPCs (0.069%±0.018% vs.0.098%±0.021%;t=7.755,P<0.001) were significantly lower than those in the good outcome group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the higher baseline NIHSS score (odds ratio 1.242,95% confidence interval 1.126-1.372;P<0.001),CE subtype (odds ratio 3.460,95% confidence interval 1.312-5.146;P=0.016),and the lower baseline EPCs (odds ratio 1.632,95% confidence interval 1.006-3.024;P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for poor outcome in patients.Conclusion s The level of circulating EPCs was decreased significantly in patients with acute ischemic stroke,and the lower level of baseline EPCs was an independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with ischemic stroke at 90 d.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of long-pulsed tunable Nd: YAG laser on capillary hemangioma and to analyse its influencial factors. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 124 patients with 135 vascular lesions treated with long-pulsed tunable Nd:YAG laser from February, 2007 to January, 2008. Working parameters, including spot size (3-5 mm), pulse duration (10-30 ms) and fluence (120-200 J/cm2) were determined based on the size, color and depth of lesions and adjusted according to the immediate reaction of lesions. The interval of two treatments was 1 month. Results Of the 135 lesions, 100 experienced a more than 95% subsidence, 22 achieved 60%-94% subsidence, 11 got 30% -59% subsidence, and 2 reached less than 30% subsidence. The cure rate and effective rate were 74.07% and 90.37% respectively. Smaller lesions showed a better response to the treatment than larger ones (P<0.0001), whereas the sites and depth of lesions had no effect on the efficacy (both P>0.05). Atrophy scar occurred in 4 (2.96%) lesions, and blisters in 12 (8.89%) lesions after the treatment. No purpura or pigmentary changes occurred. Conclusion The long-pulsed tunable Nd:YAG laser is an effective treatmnt for capillary hemangioma with fast action and few side reactions.