Objective To observe the effects of substance P (SP), NK1 receptor antagonist and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors on the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) by immortalized human keratinocyte line HaCaT. Methods The NO level in supernatant of cultured HaCaT cells was measured by nitrate reductase assay after treatment with different concentrations (10-9 to 10-6 mol/L) of SP, or the combination of SP (10-8 mol/L) and spantide (3×10-7 mol/L), aminoguanidine (10-7 mol/L), 7-nitroindazole (10-6 mol/L) or L-NAME (10-5 mol/L) for various durations. Reverse transcription-PCR was performed to measure the expression of iNOS mRNA in HaCaT cells incubated with SP of 10-8 mol/L for 1, 24 and 48 hours. Results The SP of 10-9 to 10-6 mol/L significantly induced the production of NO by HaCaT cells, and the highest level of NO was observed in HaCaT cells treated with SP of 10-8 mol/L. The synthesis of NO by HaCaT cells induced by SP was inhibited by Spantide of 3 × 10~7 mol/L at all time points (30 minutes, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours, all P< 0.01), by L-NAME of 10-5 mol/L at 3 time points (30 minutes, 1, 24 hours) and by 7-nitroin-dazole of 10-6 mol/L at 2 time points (30 minutes, 1 hour, both P< 0.05), but not by aminoguanidine of 10-7 mol/L at any time point (all P > 0.05). After treatment with SP of 10-8 mol/L, the relative mRNA expression of iNOS was 0.199 ± 0.018 and 0.516 ± 0.030 at 24 and 48 hours, respectively, and there was a statistical difference between the two time points (P < 0.01). Conclusions SP can reinforce the secretion of NO by HaCaT cells via NK1 receptor activation, but iNOS is unlikely to be the primary origin of NO secreted by HaCaT cells induced by SP.

Objective To investigate the relationship between apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLCs) and impaired immunity by assessing the apoptosis and expression of Fas and Bcl-2 in PBLCs of patients with secondary syphilis. Methods Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect PBLC apoptosis as well as Fas and Bcl-2 expression in 33 patients with secondary syphilis and 30 normal controls. Results The Fas expression on PBLCs and CD4+ cells was significantly higher in patients than that in controls (P 0.05). The apoptosis levels were significantly higher in PBLCs and CD4+ cells in patients than those in controls (P 0.05). In patients group, the apoptosis levels of both PBLCs and CD4+ cells had a positive correlation with the Fas expression (r = 0.68, P

Objective To establish standard liver volume formula of healthy Chinese and to explore if there is a correlation between changes of hepatic volume and hepatic functional reserve.Methods Two hundred and eighty healthy volunteers and 85 cirrhotics undergone serial abdominal H-CT scanning. The relation between normal liver volume measured by CT and body surface area(BSA) was studied by linear regression and correlation method, the standard liver volume formula was deduced. For cirrhotic patients, the change rate of liver volume was calculated and was compared with their Child class and postoperative complications.Results The mean normal hepatic volume for Chinese adults was (1?250?141)?cm 3. There is a positive correlation between estimated liver volume in vivo and body surface area[r=0.96, LV(cm 3)=613?BSA(cm 3)+162.8]. The mean liver volume (SD) for Child class A cirrhotics was (1?092?276)?cm 3, (868?163)?cm 3 for class B, and (652?76)?cm 3 for class C. Differences were observed among the three classes (P

Objective To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) in the angiogenesis of condyloma acuminatum (CA). Methods Tissue specimens were obtained from the lesions of 30 patients with CA and foreskin of 15 normal human controls. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and immunohistochemical method were utilized to measure the protein and mRNA expressions of VEGF and TGF-α in the specimens. Microvessel density (MVD) was determined by staining with anti-CD34 polyclonal antibodies. Results A statistical elevation was observed in the expression of VEGF and TGF-α mRNA as well as MVD in CA specimens compared with the normal control specimens (P < 0.001, 0.001, 0.01). The expressions of VEGF and TGF-α protein were observed in 90% and 86.7% of the CA specimens, and in 40% and 26.7% of the control specimens (both P < 0.01). MVD was positively correlated with the expression of VEGF and TGF-α protein in CA tissues (both P < 0.01). Conclusion The overexpression of VEGF and TGF-α in CA tissue may accelerate angiogenesis in, and participate in the development and progression of, CA.

Objective To prepare complex material—hydroxyapatite/silicone rubber (HA/SR) used in filling parenchyma and to measure and analyse its mechanical properties, looking for proper proportion of material. Methods The complex material was mixed based on different proportion (the HA/SR mass ratio of 23%, 33.3% and 41%), and its respective properties were tested according to national standard and performed statistical analysis. Results With the increasing proportion of hydroxyapatite in complex material, the rigidity of complex material enhanced gradually, but the mechanical property decreased. Conclusion If the HA/SR mass ratio was 23% to 33.3%, the mechanical properties of complex material are equal to that of pure SR. If the HA/SR mass ratio was over 41%, the mechanical properties of complex material decrease so that the complex material can not be used in filling.

In order to fit in will the needs of socialist cultural and ideological progress, medical moral education should be strengtland and ist methods should be improwed. The only way to improve the methods is to liberate the thoughts, reney ideas, from new style ideas and educate students comprehensively for medical morals.

Major breakthrough and challenge that encountered by modern western medicine were described in this article. Some standpoints about the necessity of innovative revolution for the development of traditional Chinese medicine, together with the key points should be bring to the attention during ideological emancipation have been put forward here. Chinese scientists agreed that it is the most appropriate timing for us to establish a new medicine system, which we named Holistic Systems Medicine (HSM). The concept and research contents of Holistic Systems Medicine were also introduced in this article. Finally, a proposal for setting up“China Holistic Systems Medicine development project” was proposed.

OBJECTIVE To study risk factors in senile diabetics complicated with urinary tract infections and find out measures to cut down the incidence rate with urinary tract infection.METHODS The age,sex,hospital day,course of diabetes,blood sugar level and catheterization in 181 hospital patients of senile diabetics complicated with urinary tract infections from 2004 to 2007 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS The incidence of senile diabetics complicated with urinary tract infections was closely related with age,sex,hospitalization days,course of diabetes,blood sugar level and catheterization.CONCLUSIONS Control measure for risk factors in senile diabetics can actively cut down the incidence rate of urinary tract infection.

Objective To explore the difference of DNA methylation levels between normal Schwann cells (NSCs) and activated Schwann cells (ASCs) in rats. Methods The adult Wistar rats were received sciatic nerve ligation and fed for 7 days. The ASCs and NSCs were separated from ligated sciatic nerves and brachial plexus respectively. Immunocytochemical staining of S-100 antibody was used to identify the cells. The growth condition of cells was detected by CCK-8 method. Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) was applied to filter the differentially methylated regions in ASCs and NSCs. The distribution of differentially methylated genes related with axonal regeneration in chromosome was analyzed, and Gene ontology(GO)and PATHWAY analysis were also conducted. Results High purity of ASCs and NSCs were obtained successfully, which were both positive for S-100 antibody. In the same culture condition, ASCs showed a faster proliferation than that of NSCs. A total of 177 176 differentially methylated regions were found by MeDIP-Seq. Among them, 1 097 were located in the promoter (≤1 kb), 1 136 in the promoter (1-2 kb) and 567 on the CpG. After functional annotation of differentially methylated genes, 214 differentially methylated genes related with axonal regeneration were found in ASCs and NSCs. Compared with NSCs, 191 genes were up-regulated and 23 genes were down-regulated in ASCs. These genes were located on different chromosomes, most of which on chromosome 12 (22 genes) and the least on chromosomes M (2 genes). GO analysis indicated that the differential methylated genes were involved in axon growth, axon formation, axon elongation and axon guidance. The MAPK, cell adhesion molecules, Ras signaling pathway may be related with the differential methylated genes. Conclusion The methylation levels between ASCs and NSCs are significantly different, which are probably related with axon regeneration.

Objective To investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the scratching behavior evoked by substance P (SP) in mice. Methods Forty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups to receive intradermal injection of different doses of SP (0, 20, 40, 80, 160 nmol/site) into the rostral part of the back to establish the acute itch model. Another 40 mice were randomly allocated to model, spantide, L-arginine,L-NAME and aminognanidine groups injected intracutaneously with normal saline (NS), spantide, L-arginine,L-NAME and aminoguanidine, respectively, 10 minutes before SP (80 nmol/site) injection. Subsequently,the scratching behavior was observed, iNOS expression and NO level in the injected skin were detected by immunohistochemical staining and nitrate reductase assay, respectively. Results The scratching bouts per hour induced by intradermal NS and SP of 20, 40, 80 and 160 nmol/site were 4.38±4.07, 5.38±3.78,12.75±6.52, 23.50±7.84 and 42.38±15.84, respectively, and only SP at higher doses (40 - 160 nmol/site)elicited a dose-dependent scratching response in mice (P < 0.01 or 0.05) compared with NS. The scratches over 1 hour in SP, L-arginine, spantide, L-NAME and aminognanidine group were 67.13±32.79, 70.75±34.80, 10.75±8.14, 29.00±21.19 and 35.38±22.83, respectively; of them, pretreatment with spantide,L-NAME and aminognanidine significantly inhibited SP-induced scratching (P < 0.01 or 0.05), but L-arginine showed no inhibitory effect (P > 0.05). Compared with SP, the pretreatment with spantide, L-NAME and aminoguanidine significantly downregulated the iNOS expression and NO content (P < 0.01 or 0.05) in the injected skin other than L-arginine (P > 0.05 ). Conclusion Intradermal SP could increase NO synthesis by neurokinin 1 receptor activation, resulting in the scratching behavior in BALB/c mice.