Objective: The fibrogenicity of fur dust was studied in rat lung tissues. Methods: Intratracheal instillation of fur dust, morphologic examination of lungs and analysis of collagen content were performed in Wistar rats. Results: Morphologic examination revealed that the earliest changes consisted of alveolar edema, increased numbers of intraalveolar macrophages, and marked thickening of interalveolar septa with mixed cellular infiltrate. After sixth months, there was moderate thickening of the alveolar walls and the peribronchioli. After 12 months, interstitial positive fibrosis of the alveolar wall and the peribronchioli were weakly seen. In the carding dust group (silica content 17.6%), interstitial nodules were observed composed of fibroblasts, reticular fibers, and collagen fibers. Electron microscopic examination also showed that alveolar walls became thickened and collagen fiber bundles were seen around bronchioles and small vessels in the carding groups after 12 months. At all stages of analysis, the collagen content in lungs of the fur dust groups was significantly higher than that of the control group. Conclusions: Our study suggested that fur dust might induce weak interstitial fibrosis in the lung.
Dust ; Collagen ; interstitial ; month ; seconds

Objective To study the value of spiral CT in diagnosing renal cell carcinoma(RCC) and to evaluate the correlation of CT findings with histopathologie features in RCC. Methods 279 cases with RCC proven by surgery and pathology underwent plain and contrast-enhanced CT examinations. The clinic characteristics and CT findings were analyzed statistically and compared with surgical results. Results 90.32% lesions showed medium or obvious enhancement on contrast-enhanced CT,with the exception of granule cells for enhanced uniform, the other cell type of RCC showed heterogeneous enhancement. 32.26% of tumors was of more or less short-burres (χ~2 = 38.2,P<0.01) ,and the there was significant relationship between pathological signs of short burr and the renal capsule involved by tumors. CT qualitative diagnostic rate was 91.40%. CT staging and pathologic staging were of the correla-tive coefficient of 0. 84, while there was not obviously correlation between CT classification of RCC and cancer cell types(P>0.05). Conclusion Spiral CT can better show characteristics of RCC, that can improve the diagnostic accuracy and staging aility for RCC.

The relationship between the expression of resistin in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance was investigated. The plasma resistin concentrations in 35 patients with PCOS and 40 controls were measured by ELISA. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and fasting insulin (FIN) were tested by radioimmunoassay. Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined by oxidase test. Western blot and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) methods were used to detect the expression of resistin in adipose tissues. The levels of plasma resistin, LH, LH/FSH and FIN and HOMA-IR in patients with PCOS were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). Plasma resistin was correlated positively with FPG, FIN, HOMA-IR, LH and LH/FSH (r=0.56, 0.60, 0.65, 0.48, and 0.42 respectively). Resistin protein and mRNA expression levels in patients with PCOS were significantly higher than those in normal tissues (all P<0.01). It was concluded that resistin might be involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance of PCOS.

Aim To study the fluorescence spectroscopy of human serum albumin(HSA)and the interaction of aspirin and HSA.Methods The quenching mechanism of the fluorescence of human serum albumin by aspirin was studied with the fluorescence.The interaction dissociation constants KD of human serum albumin and aspirin were determined at different temperatures according to double reciprocal Lineweaver-Burk plot and the main binding force was discussed by thermodynamic equations.The effect of aspirin on human serum albumin was also studied by synchronous fluorescence spectrometry.Results The quenching mechanism of aspirin to human serum albumin was static quenching.The interaction dissociation constants KD at 37℃,25℃ was 1.44?10-3 and 1.96?10-3 mol?L-1 respectively.The thermodynamic parameters of the reaction was-19.73 kJ?mol-1(?H),-16.21 kJ?mol-1(?G),-11.77 kJ?mol-1(?S).Conclusions The main binding force between aspirin and HSA was Van der Waals interaction.Aspirin binding on the human serum albumin could change the serum protein conformation.

BACKGROUND:Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)adopts heparin-coated oxygenator as key membrane oxygenation,which is a covalent bonding of artificial material surface with mucopolysaccharide on one side of heparin.Thas artificial materials can stimulate human vascular endothelial function partly,leading to decrease production of lactic acid,increase biocompatibility of the matedals,prevent thrombogenesis and relieve inflammatory reaction after operation.OBJECTIVE:To discuss the relationship between the plasma lactic acid level and the prognosis of patients after ECMO applied with heparin-coated oxygenator.DESIGN:Self-controlled clinical study,grouping by age and survival prognosis.SETTING:Department of Cardiopuimonary Bypass,Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.PARTICIPANTS:Forty patients received ECMO in Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were selected from December 2004 to September 2006.They suffered from failing weaning of cardiopulmonary bypass postcardioctomy,cardiogenic shock based on dilated cardiomyopathy or cardiogenic shock based on coronary heart disease.All patients were divided into four groups according to age and survival prognosis:adult survival group,adult death group,infant survival group and infant death group.METHODS:All the patients received venoarterial ECMO support treatment.ECMO perfusion system consisted of centrifugal pump,water tank,heparin-coated membrane oxygenator(Jorstra Novalung,Germany)and corollary circuits (Bioline Coating,Germany,batch number:SFDA-I-20063450801).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The concentrations of lactic acid were measured at the ECMO institution,6 hours later,the median time at ECMO support,6 hours before weaning off and at the time of weaning.RESULTS:①In 26 patients of adult groups,20 of them(76.9%)weaned from ECMO,16 of them(61.5%)survived and 10 of them died.In 14 patients of infant groups,7 of them weaned from ECMO(50%),5 of them(35.7%)survived and 9 of them died.②The concentrations of lactic acid in two survival groups were significantly lower than those in death groups(P＜0.05 or 0.001).The concentration decreased significantly at the time points of median time,6 hours before weaning off and at the weaning time,compared with the level at the time of ECMO institution(P＜0.01),indicating a decreasing concentration of lactic acid.CONCLUSION:①The concentration of lactic acid in patients after ECMO decreascs obviously.②Patients with high lactate level at the weaning time show unfavourable prognosis.

Aim To investigate the effects of red yeast rice capsules containing coenzyme Q10 on femur with an animal model of osteoporosis, which was induced by OVX with D-galactose in rats, and the results were compared with those obtained from diethylstilbestrol. Methods Three-month old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group ( CON ) , ovariectomized group ( OVX ) , model group ( MOD ) , diethylstilbestrol group( DES) , and red yeast rice cap-sule group( RYR) . After 60 days, the left femurs were collected for Ca, P and hyp measurement, while the right femurs were performed with three-point bending test and micro-CT evaluation, respectively. Results Compared with CON group, MOD group had a signifi-cant increase in body weight, Tb. Sp, SMI and signifi-cant decrease in maximum load, stiffness, maximum strength, break strength, elastic modulus, Ca, P, Hyp contents and indicators of BV/TV, Tb. N, BMD, Conn-Dens. On the other hand, compared with MOD group, RYR group had a lower body weight and all bone biomechanics indexes were increased without sta-tistically significant difference. At the same time, the content of Ca, P and indicators of BV/TV, Tb. N, Tb. Th, BMD, Conn-Dens increased significantly;yet Tb. Sp decreased significantly. In DES group, the results of indicators were consistent with those for RYR group. In addition, compared with DES group, in RYR group body weight decreased significantly;the content of Ca, P and indicators of BV/TV, Tb. N, Tb. Th, Conn-Dens were significantly higher, and Tb. Sp, SMI were significantly lower. Conclusions Significant bone loss and deteriorated mechanical properties of femur can be observed in animal model of osteoporosis induced by OVX combined with D-galactose. Red yeast rice cap-sules containing coenzyme Q10 show effective prevention effects. Furthermore, red yeast rice capsules(0. 5 tab-let·kg-1 ) have better effect on increasing the number of trabecular bone than diethylstilbestrol ( 30 μg · kg-1 ) does.

Aim To compare the interactions of baicalein and baicalin with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and their mechanism. Methods The binding reactions of baicalein and baicalin with BSA and the effects of glucose on them were studied by spectroscopy to compare the binding constants and binding distances of baicalein-BSA and baicalin-BSA,which were calculated according to Lineweaver-Burk equation and F?ster' energy transfer theory. Thermodynamic parameters were used to calculate the types of interaction force between BSA with baicalein or baicalin and the technique of synchronous fluorescence spectra was used to observe the effects of baicalein or baicalin on the conformation of BSA. Results Both the binding constants and binding distances of baicalein-BSA and baicalin-BSA decreased with temperature increasing and were increased by glucose. Relative to baicalein,the binding affinity of baicalin to BSA decreased obviously with an increase in binding distance. Both baicalein and baicalin could form non-covalent compounds with BSA mainly to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA through a static quenching procedure. Baicalein could interact with BSA through hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals force,and baicalin did it mainly through electrostatic force. Though baicalein or baicalin could induce the conformational changes of BSA by binding reaction,only the former reduced the hydrophobicity in microenvironment around the tryptophan moieties of BSA. Conclusions The glycosylation substitution of baicalein molecule can decrease the binding to BSA (baicalin-BSA) and change the types of interaction force. The physiological concentration of glucose increases the binding constants and the number of binding sites of baicalein and baicalin with BSA.

The P85 regulatory subunit protein and gene expression and P110 catalylic subunit activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) were investigated in adipose tissue of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in order to explore the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance (IR) of GDM. Samples from patients with GDM (n=50), and controls (n=50) were collected. Fasting insulin (FIN) was determined by radioimmunoassay. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was measured by oxidase assay. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of PI-3K P85 subunit in adipose tissues of patients with GDM. The mRNA expression of PI-3K P85 subunit was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method in the adipose tissue. PI-3K activity was examined by immunoprecipitation, thin-layer chromatography and gamma scintillation counting. The results were analyzed statistically. It was found that the levels of FPG, FIN and HOMA-IR in GDM group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the protein and gene expression of PI-3K P85 subunit between GDM group and control group (P>0.05). PI-3K activity was significantly decreased to 82.89% in GDM group as compared with control group (P<0.01) and negatively correlated with HOMA-IR (r=-0.75, P<0.01). It was concluded that PI-3K in GDM patients may be involved in the insulin signaling pathway, resulting in IR of GDM.

Aim To investigate whether D-galactose cause osteoporosis and the difference compared with the osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy, and to deter-mine whether ovariectomy coupled with D-galactose ac-celerated the progress of osteoporosis and whether es-trogen had a preventive effect on these osteoporosis models. Methods Sixty SPF mice were randomly divided into six groups , namely sham-operated group, D-galactose group, OVX group, OVX + D-galactose group, OVX + D-galactose + diethylstilbestrol group and D-galactose + diethylstilbestrol group. Seventy days later, the right tibia was processed with undecal-cified sections for bone histomorphometric analysis. Results Compared with the sham-operated group, %Tb. Ar, Tb. Th and Tb. N decrease by 50. 4%, 25. 4%, 50. 9% ( P <0.01 ) respectively, Tb. Sp in-creased by 169. 4% (P <0.05), Oc. pm, Oc. No. ,%Oc. S, Oc. N/mm which reflected bone absorption significantly increased ( P < 0.01 ) , and % L. Pm, MAR, BFR/TV, BFR/BV, BFR/BS which reflected bone formation significantly decreased ( P <0.01 ) in OVX group. %Tb. Ar decreased by 30. 4% in D-ga-lactose group, but there was no statistically significant difference. However, the four parameters reflected the bone absorption in D-galactose group increased signifi-cantly ( P<0.05 ) , while the four parameters reflected bone formation decreased significantly ( P < 0.05 ) . OVX+D-galactose group has obvious performance of osteoporosis, but there was no significant difference compared to OVX group, nor to D-galactose group. Estrogen had significant preventive effect on related pa-rameters of osteoporosis induced by D-galactose and o-variectomy coupled with D-galactose. ConclusionsOsteoporosis model of mice can be established by OVX, D-galactose and OVX +D-galactose. Estrogen can effectively prevent bone loss induced by D-galac-tose and OVX+ D-galactose.

OBJECTIVEThe fibrogenicity of fur dust was studied in rat lung tissues.

METHODSIntratracheal instillation of fur dust, morphologic examination of lungs and analysis of collagen content were performed in Wistar rats.

RESULTSMorphologic examination revealed that the earliest changes consisted of alveolar edema, increased numbers of intraalveolar macrophages, and marked thickening of interalveolar septa with mixed cellular infiltrate. After sixth months, there was moderate thickening of the alveolar walls and the peribronchioli. After 12 months, interstitial positive fibrosis of the alveolar wall and the peribronchioli were weakly seen. In the carding dust group (silica content 17.6%), interstitial nodules were observed composed of fibroblasts, reticular fibers, and collagen fibers. Electron microscopic examination also showed that alveolar walls became thickened and collagen fiber bundles were seen around bronchioles and small vessels in the carding groups after 12 months. At all stages of analysis, the collagen content in lungs of the fur dust groups was significantly higher than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONSOur study suggested that fur dust might induce weak interstitial fibrosis in the lung.