Objective To investigate the effects of taurine on the expression of stem cell factor mRNA of the focal cerebral ischemia in rat.Methods 63 adult male rats were randomly divided into taurine-treated group (Taurine, 80 mg/kg, began at the day of MCAO and continuously intravenous injection for 10 min, daily for 7 days) and controlled group (0.9% normal saline, 1 ml, continuously intravenous injection for 10 min daily for 7 days). The rats received right middle cerebral artery occlusion at 2h and different hours of reperfusion. Expression of SCF was detected by in situ hybridization in the rats subjected to2h,24h,3d,7d, 14 d of reperfusion and sham-operated group (n=3). Results Low level SCF mRNA expressions were found in cortex, striatum and extraventricular zone in sham-operated group. The expression of SCF mRNA in ischemic hemisphere of controlled group increased markedly compared with sham-operated group (t=2.16~25.19, P＜ 0.05), besides that of 2 h in cortex, 2 h in striatum, 2h and 14d in extraventricular zone. SCF mRNA expression in the treatment group increased markedly in cortex,striatum and extraventricular zone at 3d and 7d(t=5.19~ 26.17,P＜0.05). Conclusion Taurine increased the SCF mRNA expression in MCAO rats, therefore it might promote the creation of neural stem cell.

Aims To analyze the intervention effect of Captopril on serum endogenous metabolites alternations in spontaneous hypertension rats ( SHR) and to investi-gate possible therapeutic mechanism .Methods The rapid resolution liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry ( RRLC-Q-TOF-MS) and technology coupled with partial least squares discriminant analysis ( PLS-DA ) processed by SIMCA-P software were used to distinguish significantly different variables and identify potential biomarkers . Results Compared to the normal group , metabolic profiling changed significantly in model group and Cap-toril group .Totally 4 metabolins and their metabolic pathways were detected , which were closely related to the endothelial function .Conclusion Metabolomics reveals possible therapeutic mechanism of Captopril for protecting endothelial function from overall metabolism of the body .It also shows unique potential in terms of interpretation of the complex mechanisms of drugs .

Objective To observe the effects of atorvastatin calcium on serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-α and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), so as to approach the mechanism of atorvastatin calcium inhibiting ACI inflammatory injury. Methods Eighty-four patients with ACI were randomly divided into 2 groups: group B (42 cases, treated with antiplatelet therapy and improving cerebral circulation), group A(42 cases, treated with atorvastatin calcium 20 mg/d after the onset of ACI for 28 days on the base of group B). TNF- α and CRP were detected before treatment and in the 3rd,7th day after treatment. The European stroke scale (ESS) was evaluated on the same time. A healthy control group (group C, 16 cases) was also included in the study. Results The peak of CRP and TNF-α levels were observed in the 3rd and 7th day after treatment respectively, and the levels of group A were lower than those of group B [(13.00 ± 2.45) mg/L vs (19.21 ± 3.67) mg/L,(19.79 ± 11.01) ng/L vs (30.69 ± 18.47) ng/L, P < 0.05]. In the 7th day after treatment, the scores of ESS was higher in group A than that in group B [(79.19 ± 30.59) scores vs (63.91 ± 27.87) scores, P < 0.05]. Conclusions Atorvastatin calcium can prevent the increase of serum TNF-α and CRP, and it has anti-inflammatory effect. Atorvastatin calcium may have the role of neuroprotection besides lipid-lowering.

Objective:To study the clinical features of children with pertussis and the risk factors of severe pertussis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed based on clinical data and laboratory examination results of hospitalized children with pertussis who admitted to the intensive care unit, respiratory department, and emergency general department at Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2019 to March 2020.According to the age, the patients were divided into age ≤3 months group( n=58)and age >3 months group( n=64). According to sputum culture, 63 cases were divided into negative sputum culture group and 59 cases were positive sputum culture group.The patients were also divided into vaccinated group( n=19)and unvaccinated group( n=103). Severe disease was seen in 28 cases, and the other 94 cases had the modest disease.The clinical characteristics between two groups were compared, and the risk factors of severe pertussis pneumonia were analyzed. Results:The hospitalization days in age ≤3 months group was higher than that in age >3 months group.It was also found that shortness of breath, apnea, cyanosis after coughing, heart rate decline were more common in age ≤3 months group than those in age >3 months group( P<0.05). The incidences of respiratory failure and heart failure in positive sputum culture group were higher than those in negative sputum culture group.Clinical characteristics such as hospitalization days, hospitalization expenses, peak white blood cell count, peak lymphocyte count, and incidence of bacterial infection were higher in severe pertussis group than those in non-severe pertussis group( P<0.05). Four patients were treated with exchange blood transfusion, and one patient died.Logistic regression analysis revealed that fever, wheezing, cyanosis after coughing and white blood cell count>20×10 9/L were risk factors for severe pertussis.White blood cell count of 20×10 9/L and lymphocyte count of 14×10 9/L had the highest sensitivity and specificity in predicting severe pertussis(0.71, 0.78; 0.54, 0.79). Conclusion:The younger the children are, the more likely they have shortness of breath, apnea, cyanosis, heart rate falls, and the longer the hospital stay.Bacterial infection will aggravate pertussis.Patients with fever, wheezing, cyanosis after coughing, and white blood cell count>20×10 9/L are more likely to develop severe pertussis.The white blood cell count >20×10 9/L and the lymphocyte count >14×10 9/L are associated with severe pertussis.

To develop a clinical diagnosis technique for bluetongue virus infection, we established serotype-specific methods to detect serotype 4 of bluetongue virus (BTV-4). Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against VP2 protein of BTV-4, named 4A-1G7 and 4B-1B6, were used as competitive antibodies in the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (C-ELISA). We detected 50 negative serum samples from sheep, goats and cattle by C-ELISA. The cut-off values of 4A-1G7 and 4B-1B6 mAbs were 49% and 40%, respectively. The results of the sensitivity, specificity and repeatability by detecting standard positive serum, were consistent with the general standard of Office International Des Epizooties. Furthermore, serum samples of BTV-4, BTV-18 and BTV-20 infection could be screened out through the combined C-ELISAs by 4A-1G7 and 4B-1B6 mAbs. Thus, this technique may diagnose BTV-4, BTV-18 and BTV-20 infections.

To confirm the B cell epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3G11 of bluetongue virus type 8 (BTV-8) VP2 protein prepared in our laboratory, antigen epitopes recognized by 3G11 were screened and identified by phage display technology. KLLAT sequence was found by sequencing of blue spot after four rounds panning and 283LL284 of common short peptide sequence was obtained after comparison to amino acid sequence of BTV-8 VP2 protein. The peptide sequences KLLAA, KALAT, KLAAT and KLLAT were synthesized and identified by indirect ELISA. KLLAA and KLLAT bound strongly with supernatant and as cites of 3G11 cells and reacted specifically with BTV-8 positive standard sera. Further sequence analysis showed that amino acid sequence 283LL284 was conserved among different serotypes of BTV-8 strains, and283LL284 was the key amino acids of antigen epitopes recognized by 3G11. This study laid the foundation to establish type 8 BTV specific immunological detection methods.