Objective To study the activation of macrophage and upregulation of CD40 in neutropenic and nonneutropenic lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI).Methods Forty mice were randomly divided into four groups (neutropenic septic group,neutropenic control group,non neutropenic septic group and normal control group).The pathologic changes of mice lungs were observed after hematoxylin and eosin staining.CD40 expression was determined by flow cytometry.Cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α levels from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum were measured by ELISA.Results The average weight and peripheral blood white cell counts were increased significantly in the neutropenic group as compared to the non neutropenic group before the rats were sacrificed [(181.13 ± 16.94) g vs (168.56 ±5.03) g,(9.54 ± 1.25) × 109/L vs (2.56 ± 1.12) × 109/L,P ＜0.05,respectively].The cell counts in BALF were higher in neutropenic septic and non neutropenic septic groups compared to the normal control group [(3.33 ±0.26) × 106/L,(3.23 ± 0.06) × 106/L,(1.68 ± 0.23) × 106/L,P ＜ 0.05].The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α from serum were increased significantly in neutropenic septic and non neutropenic septic groups as compared to the normal control group [(2 337.08 ± 1 148.85) pg/ml,(2 274.01 ± 1 569.37) pg/ml,(96.20 ± 93.69) pg/ml,P ＜ 0.05].The CD40 molecular expressions were higher in neutropenic septic and non neutropenic septic groups compared to the normal control group [(42.06 ± 11.90) ％,(46.38 ±7.42) ％,(21.62 ± 4.86) ％,P ＜ 0.01].Conclusion Upregulation of CD40 molecule induces the inflammatory cytokines releasing,then leads to ALI.Therefore both the inflammatory cytokines and CD40 play vital role in the pathogenesis of ALI.

Objective To investigate the changes of plasma activated protein C(APC)in the pediatric leukemia patients with acute lung injury(ALI),and the relationship with the outcome.Methods During the study period(from Jan to Dec 2009),17 pediatric leukemia patients with ALI were selected.They were divided into neutropenic(n =10)and non-neutropenic(n =7)group.We collected the basic data including the age,gender,stage of chemotherapy,pediatric critical illness score,mechanical ventilation time,ICU time.The blood gas and plasma APC levels were detected on day 1 and day 4 of ALI onset.Results Compared with the non-neutropenic group,the neutropenic group had a significantly longer mechanical ventilation time [(16.60 ± 1 0.83)d vs(3.79 ± 4.08)d,P =0.009 6],lower PaO2 level on day l[(54.90 ± 17.05)mm Hg vs (92.70 ± 27.53)mm Hg,P =0.009 7],and lower APC level on day 4[(193.06 ± 63.19)pg/mlvs(286.28 ±25.12)pg/ml,P =0.007 7].Conclusion The APC generation is severely impaired in the neutropenic group,especially in those who died.The lower APC level is,the longer is the mechanical ventilation time,the worse is oxygenation,the poorer is the prognosis.APC replacement therapy may be promising in these patients.

Objective To explore pathogenes and pathogenesis of acute cerebral infarction (ACI) from the perspective of integrated traditional and western medicine.Methods To categorize the tongue and pulse manifestation of 64 ACI patients and calculate their frequency,constituent ratios.Meanwhile,patients' blood pressure and laboratory examination results are given descriptive and statistical analysis,showing their means and standard deviations,etc.Results The frequency of dark-red tongue,thin-greasy tongue fur,greasy-yellow tongue fur and taut-slippery is respectively 48,34,20,and 41,constituting 77.4％,54.8％,32.3％,64.1％ of the patients examined respectively; Mean and standard deviation of systolic blood pressure (SBP),total cholesterol (TC),white blood cell (WBC),neutrophil percentage (NEUT％),fasting plasma glucose (FPG),and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is respectively (141.20± 19.20)mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)、(4.47±0.97) mmol/L、(7.83±2.63) × 109/L、(71.61±9.65)％、(6.16±2.25)mmol/L、and (6.60±1.66)％.Conclusion In terms of pathogens,wind,stasis,heat (fire) and turbid pathogen (phlegm,dampness,etc.) are important factors in bringing out ACI; In respect of ACI pathogenesis characteristics,healthy qi is slightly damaged and pathogenic qi is exuberant.Yet,the role of modern medical examination results,such as blood pressure,blood glucose,blood lipids etc.in the assessment of ACI pathogens and pathogenesis awaits further exploration.

Background Neurofilament 200 (NF200) is an indirect indicator of the specific distribution of axons.It reflects the condition of the maintenance of neuronal morphology.Whether NF200 is involved in the damage of the visual pathway after retinal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIRI) should be further examined.Objective The present study was to investigate the expression of NF200 in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs),lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN),superior colliculus and visual cortex following RIRI.Methods Forty SD rats were randomized into the RIRI 1-,2-,3-,4-,6-,8-week groups,sham operation group and control group.Acute intraocular hypertension was induced in the right eye by anterior chamber perfusion of normal saline solution for 60 minutes to elevate the intraocular pressure to 110 mmHg.The animals were sacrificed at different time points for the preparation of the retina,LGN,superior colliculus and visual cortex sections.The expression of NF200 in RGCs,LGN,superior colliculus and visual cortex was assayed by immunohistochemistry.Results The expression level (A value) of NF200 in the RGCs was significantly different among the 8 groups after reperfusion (F =78.855,P =0.000),and that in the 1-week group was significantly lower than in the control group (t =36.563,P＜0.01).In the RIRI 1-week group,the expression of NF200 in the contralateral LGN in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (t =6.483,P＜0.01).In the 4-week group and 6-week group,the expression of NF200 in the contralateral LGN was significantly higher than that in the control group (t =2.904,4.313,P＜0.01).One week after RIRI,the expression of NF200 in contralateral superior celliculus in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (t =2.966,P＜0.05),and in the 2-week group,the expression of NF200 in the contralateral superior colliculus was significantly higher than that in the control group (t =7.397,P＜0.01).In the 2-week group,3-week group and 4-week group,the expression of NF200 in bilateral visual cortex was significantly higher in the experimental group than that in the control group (contralateral ∶ t =18.728,18.213,15.088,P＜0.01 ; ipsilateral ∶ t =8.690,5.704,7.805,P＜0.01).Conclusions RIRI can induce axonal damage of RGCs,contralateral LGN,superior colliculus and bilateral visual cortex neurons.

Blue laser imaging (BLI) is a new endoscopic system equipped with the laser beam emitting two different wavelengths.It produces bright and high resolution images for observation of microvascular and microsurface patterns of esophageal and gastric mucosa, helping the diagnosis of early upper gastrointestinal cancer.Compared with the existed endoscopic techniques, BLI shows its unique advantages.In this article, advances in application of BLI in diagnosis of early upper gastrointestinal cancer were reviewed.

Artemisia lactiflora is an important medicinal plant in China. The antitumor and antioxidant activities of the extracts of 54 endophytic fungi from the plant were screened via MTT assay and DPPH scavenging radical assay, respectively. The bioactive strains were identified based on similarity of 5.8S gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. The results showed that extracts from ten (18.5%) isolates exhibited antitumor activity, and which from two (3.7%) isolates exhibited antioxidant activity. The Alternaria sp. GYBH47 strain was simultaneously having antagonistic activity against HL-60 leukemia, MCF-7 breast and COLO205 colon cell lines, and Phomopsis sp. GYBH42 strain having cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. The results indicated that endophytic fungi from Artemisia lactiflora are potential resources to find valuable bioactive components.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Artemisia ; microbiology ; Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; classification ; physiology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fungi ; classification ; physiology ; Humans ; Picrates ; metabolism

The chemical constituents isolated from Desmodium species (Leguminosae) included terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids compounds. Modem pharmacological studies have showed that the Desmodium species have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, analgesic and choleretic activity. This article mainly has reviewed the research advances of chemical constituents and biological activities of Desmodium species since 2003.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Humans

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and sepsis in children with hematologic malignancy.Methods( 1 ) An observational study was performed in a university pediatric intensive care unit.Forty-one children were enrolled in our study,and were divided into two groups:sepsis group (27 cases) and non sepsis group ( 14 cases).(2) Serum samples were taken in the both two groups in 24 h after they were admitted in hospital.Clinical and laboratory parameters,including the levels of serum MIF,cortisol,corticotropin releasing hormone ( CRH),and ferritin were measured and compared between the two groups.Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between MIF and CRH,cortisol and pediatric critical illness score (PCIS).ResultsThe level of MIF was significantly elevated in the sepsis group[ (5 022.71 ± 3 915.82) pg/ml] than that of non sepsis group[ ( 1 722.81 ± 1 738.53) pg/ml] (P =0.001 ).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CRH as well as PCIS were the correlative factors of MIF( t =- 2.830,P =0.009; t =2.852,P =0.009 ).The higher CRH concentration,the lower PCIS score,and the higher MIF was.ConclusionThe level of serum MIF could reflect the severity of children with hematologic malignancy complicated with sepsis.The higher MIF concentration,the lower PCIS score,then the disease is more serious.To some extent,serum MIF is related with the adrenocortical function of sepsis children.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of PICU infant with sepsis,severe sepsis,and to explore the impact of prognostic factors.Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 141 cases (from January 2006 to December 2011) who were diagnosed as sepsis and severe sepsis to identify the clinical characteristics.There were 14 variables of the PICU admission day which concluded gender,age,underlying diseases,sepsis severity,organ involvement,critical score,blood biochemistry (lactate,albumin,glucose),blood gas (base excess,bicarbonate,pH),shock,culture-positive.The death or discharge as the outcome factor.The data were analyzed with the Logistic regression model.Results One hundred and forty-one cases aged from 1 to 12 months,of which 72 cases were sepsis and 69 cases were severe sepsis,29 cases died with the mortality of 20.6％.In 29 death children,13 cases had underlying diseases.In children with sepsis and severe sepsis,the most common infection site was lung,accounting for 47.2％ (34/72) and 47.8％ (33/69) ;blood cultures were positive for 34 cases,accounting for 47.2％ (34/72) and 49.3％ (34/69).Variables in the univariate analysis those were significantly associated with death from sepsis were gender,underlying diseases,age,sepsis severity,shock,organ involvement,the number of critical illness score,blood lactate,base excess,bicarbonate and pH.In the Logistic regression model,the variables significantly associated with death were the severity of sepsis (OR =22.5,95 ％ CI =5.089,99.475),and the number of organ involvement (OR=3.305,95％CI=2.152,5.075).Conclusion The heavier sepsis severity and the more number of organ involvement are,the greater the risk of death will be.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and CYP17A1 gene mutation of 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase deficiency (17OHD). Methods:The clinical data, laboratory examination and genetic results of 6 children with 17OHD in the Department of Endocrinology, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from March 2014 to December 2019 were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively.Meanwhile, the clinical types of all congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia (CAH) patients were calculated and then the incidence of 17OHD was calculated.Results:The 6 cases were from 5 families, and the age at diagnosis was ranged from 1 year and 6 months to 15 years old, in which 2 cases were 46, XX and 4 cases were 46, XY.Their gender were all female.Three cases presented with hypertension (50.0%), 4 cases with hypokalemia (66.7%), and 1 case with labia mass (16.7%). The gonad developed into a testis in patients with 46, XY, and patients with 46, XX had ovarian hypoplasia.The laboratory tests revealed an decrease in the cortisol at 8 AM in all cases, ranging from 0.62 to 5.93 mg/L.Five cases displayed an increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the range of 84-271 ng/L, and 1 patient with normal ACTH (58 ng/L) had a peak cortisol of 1.75 mg/L after the ACTH challenge test.Elevated progesterone was detected in 6 patients with a normal 17 hydroxyprogesterone level.Further results proved low levels of testosterone and estradiol, and high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). CT scan showed mild adrenal hyperplasia in all cases.Among 114 CAH patients during the same period, the incidence of 17OHD came second at 5.3%.The CYP17A1 gene mutation results indicated that 2 unrelated patients were homozygous mutation for p. Y329fs (c.985_987delTACinsAA), 2 siblings were compound heterozygous mutations for p. Y329fs and exon 1-7 deletion, 1 patient was compound heterozygous mutations of p. Y329fs and p. R416C (c.1246C>T), and 1 patient was homozygous mutations for p. L465P (c.1394T> C), which was first reported in China. Conclusions:17OHD is not rare in CAH.Female children with hypokalemia, hypertension, and hypogonadism can lead to diagnostic suspicion of 17OHD.The p. Y329fs mutation in Chinese 17OHD children is a hotspot.The p. L465P (c.1394T>C) mutation is a new mutation in China and it could enrich the mutant spectrum of CYP17A1 gene in China.