OBJECTIVE: To characterize morphology and drug release kinetics of protein-loaded poly(?-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(?-caprolactone) amphiphilic block copolymeric (PCE) microspheres, and elucidate the mechanistic details regarding protein release. METHODS: BSA-loaded PCE microspheres were prepared using a water-in-oil-in-water, followed by solvent evaporation. Morphology of the polymer microspheres was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Protein loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency were determined by extracting the proteins from the microspheres and measured using MicroBCA method. Protein release kinetics was characterized by cumulative release against the date of release incubation. RESULTS: The protein-loaded PCE microspheres were spherical and possess smooth surface under SEM. Protein loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency in the microspheres were independent of PCE molecular weight. However, the kinetic features of the protein release varied significantly with PCE molecular weight, suggesting a diffusion-degradation combined release mechanism. For the microspheres made of larger molecular weight PCE 4000, the portion of protein release attributed to diffusion from the polymer matrix was remarkably less than that from microspheres of small molecular weight PCE. In vitro release profile can be simulated using a diffusion-degradation model(Q=k1t1/2+k2t+k3t2+k4t3)(r=0.997). CONCLUSION: PCE microsphere formulation can offer sustainedrelease of proteins with initial burst and incomplete release reduced to acceptable level.

Aim To investigate the effect of intestinal cholesterol absorption inhibitor Ezetimibe on lipid accumulation in RAW264.7 cells and identify the underlying mechanism.Method RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with the indicated concentrations of Ezetimibe (0,0.003,0.01 and 0.03 mol·L~(-1))for 24 hours or pretreated with the optimal concentration(0.03 mol·L~(-1))of Ezetimibe for different periods (0,6,12 and 24 h),followed by incubation with 50 mg·L~(-1) oxLDL for 24 hours,then the number of intracellular lipid droplets and lipid content were measured by using oil red O staining and HPLC; the expression of NPC1L1 was measured by Western blot.Results Pretreatment with indicated concentrations of Ezetimibe caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of intracellular lipid accumulation;pretreatment with 0.03 mol·L~(-1) Ezetimibe caused a time-dependent inhibition of intracellular lipid accumulation.It was noted that pretreatment with 0.03 mol·L~(-1) Ezetimibe for 24 hours inhibited CE by about 47%+0.1% compared with control group(oxLDL alone).Immunoblotting results showed that NPC1L1 was expressed in RAW264.7 cells and it was down-regulated after Ezetimibe treatment.Conclusions Ezetimibe causes concentration-dependent and time-dependent inhibition of lipid accumulation in RAW264.7 cells;it also reduces NPC1L1 expression in RAW264.7 cells.

Objective To establish and evaluate a BALB/c mouse model of anaphylactic asthma with yin-deficiency syndrome. Methods Ovalbumin (OVA) was injected to sensitize and was inhaled to stimulate to replicate the BALB/c mouse model of anaphylactic asthma. Thyroxin was used for gavage during late stimulation to replicate the BALB/c mouse model of asthma with yin-deficiency syndrome. On the basis of monitoring food and water intake and body weight, asthma related indexes, such as asthmatic behaviors, respiratory function, lung histopathology, were detected, and yin-deficiency syndrome related indexes, such as cAMP and cGMP, and pulmonary fluid clearance were examined. Results The BALB/c mouse model of asthma with yin-deficiency syndrome showed obvious asthma symptoms; comprehensive scores of asthmatic behaviors increased significantly;inhaling peak flow, exsufflation peak flow, and tidal volume decreased significantly; lung tissue histopathology showed obvious inflammatory response. Meanwhile, food and water intake of BALB/c mouse model of asthma with yin-deficiency syndrome increased significantly;body weight increased slowly;wet/dry ratio of lung tissue decreased;cAMP and cAMP/cGMP increased, while cGMP decreased, which showed that the mice were in the condition of yin-deficiency and yang-excess. Conclusion Combining thyroxin at the basis of sensitivity induced by OVA is a good pattern to successfully replicate the BALB/c mouse model of anaphylactic asthma with yin-deficiency syndrome.

Objective To explore the role of ERK1/2 in the central pathogenesis of migraine.Methods Healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal group (group C),sham operation group(group C),migraine model group(group M),DMSO group (group D)and PD-98059group (PD group),with 12 rats in each group.The extracellular discharge frequency in the spinal trigeminal nucleus was recorded and ERK1/2 phosphorylation was tested.Results (1) The percentage of extracellular discharge frequency change:Two hours after treatment,the percentage of discharge frequency change was (325.9±47.32)％.The percentage of extracellula discharge frequency change in group M (325.9±47.3)％ was higher than that in group N (100.0± 0.0) ％ and group C(107.3± 16.4)％.There was no significant difference in the percentage of discharge frequency change between group D(319.3±42.5) ％ and group M (325.9±47.3) ％.The percentage of discharge frequency change in group PD(218.5±31.7)％ was lower than that in group M(325.9±47.3)％ and group D(319.3± 42.5)％.(2) ERK1/2 phosphorylation:the ERK1/2 phosphorylation in group M and group D was higher than that in group N and group C.There was no significant difference in ERK1/2 phosphorylation between group D and group M.The ERK1/2 phosphorylation in group PD was lower than the other four groups.Conclusion During the process of central sensitization to migraine,neuronal excitability and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were increased.ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and neuronal excitability.These indicated that ERK1/2 may play a role in central sensitization of migraine in rats.

Objective:To study the effects of Radix Angelicae Sinensis ( RASI) on expression of airway MUC5AC and related inflammatory factors in asthmatic mice with Yin deficiency syndrome.Methods:Injecting ovalbumin ( OVA) to sensitize,inhaling OVA to stimulate,using Thyroxin during late stimulation,the asthmatic mouse with Yin deficiency syndrome was established and evaluated through asthmatic behaviors, lung histopathology, active factors ( IL-13, TNF-αand MUC5AC ) in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and MUC5AC expression in lung tissue.Results: 2,4,8 g/kg RASI could reduce asthmatic behaviors score, relieve pathological changes of lung tissue,reduce the contents of IL-13,TNF-αand MUC5AC in BALF,and depress MUC5AC expression in lung tissue ( P<0.05,0.01).In addition,there was a certain synergy between RASI and dexamethasone ( DXM) on depressing the ex-pression of IL-13 and MUC5AC (P<0.05).Conclusion:RASI has certain anti-asthma effect and one of mechanisms is to regulate the MUC5AC expression through inhibit IL-13 and TNF-α.On the expression of IL-13 and MUC5AC,the compatibility of RASI with glu-cocorticoid has some synergy effect.

OBJECTIVETo establish and evaluate a mouse model of bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome.

METHODSThe mouse model of bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome was established by the treatment with injecting ovalbumin (OVA) two times to sensitize, inhaling OVA 14 times to stimulate, and using thyroxin through lavage during late stimulation. This model was evaluated through body weight, asthmatic behaviors, respiratory function, autonomous activity, lung pathology, and pulmonary fluid clearance.

RESULTSOVA combined with thyroxin was an appropriate method to induce the mouse model with increased food and water intake, autonomous activity, asthmatic behaviors score, and respiratory rate, decreased body weight, tidal volume, and wet/dry ratio of lung, and changed with pathology of lung tissue. The changes of the above mentioned parameters indicated that the model was the bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome.

CONCLUSIONThe OVA combined with thyroxin is a good pattern to establish a mouse model of bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome successfully, which can highly simulate the clinical symptoms of this disease.

Animals ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Bronchi ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Ovalbumin ; Thyroxine ; Yin Deficiency

Objective To understand the current status and influencing factors of public cognition, attitude, and behavior (KAP) for COVID-19, and to help the development of strategies for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Methods Snowballing-based online questionnaire was used to conduct an anonymous survey. Results A total of 1 576 questionnaires were received, and 1 553 were effective (recovery rate 98.5%).The awareness rate for epidemiological knowledge was 87.3%, 93.1% for etiology knowledge and 85.9% for prevention and treatment knowledge.The average score for attitude towards COVID-19 fear was 15.47±3.15, agreement with relevant government regulations and policies was 11.28±1.58, and for preventive behavior was 24.47±2.61.Men′s knowledge scores in epidemiology and etiology were higher than women′s (P < 0.05).Women′s attitude towards epidemic fear and government identification were scored higher than men′s (P < 0.05).The public health prevention knowledge score was higher in subjects with urban household registration than in those with rural household registration (P < 0.05).Regression analysis showed that gender, age, occupation, level of attention on pandemic, epidemiological knowledge, and etiology knowledge were the influencing factors for the fear attitude to the epidemic (P < 0.05);the attention level and prevention knowledge were the influencing factors for prevention behavior (P < 0.05). Conclusion The public awareness rate of COVID-19 and attitude towards government identification are relatively high.The degree of pandemic fear and preventive behavior are above average.More targeted public education on COVID-19 is highly recommended.

S100beta is one kind of the calcium binding proteins. As growth factor of neuraxon, it is excreted by neuroglial cell, and distributing in nerve tissue extensively. Although S100beta has very important values neurophysiological, it also has neurotoxicity with excreting overmuch. Concentration of S100beta changes regularity in serum after the brain injury. In addition, it has a close relations with the degree of brain damage, which can be regarded as the neural new marker of biochemistry after brain damage. The advances of S100beta protein, in the research on neurophysiological values and its application for nerve tissue injury, disease were reviewed.
Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Brain Injuries/physiopathology* ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/pathology* ; Humans ; Nerve Growth Factors/blood* ; Neuroglia/metabolism* ; Postmortem Changes ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; S100 Proteins/blood* ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore causes of gluteal muscle contracture induced anterior knee pain and curative effect of arthroscopic release.

METHODSFrom March 2002 to August 2013,36 patients with gluteal muscle contracture induced anterior knee pain were treated, including 15 males, 21 females, aged from 9 to 40 years old with an average (18.7±7.2) years old; the courses of diseases ranged from 4 to 30 years. The clinical manifestations involved limited to symmelia, positive Ober sign, buttocks touch contracture belts, knee and patella slide to lateral when doing squat activities. All patients were performed gluteal muscle contracture release under arthroscopic. Postoperative complications were observed, Kujala scoring before and after operation was used for compare curative effect.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up with an average of 29 months. The incision were healed well, and no complications were occurred. Postoperative Kujala score were improved more than preoperative.

CONCLUSIONGluteal muscle contracture release could alleviate hypertension of lateral patella, and palys an important role in preventing patellofemoral arthritis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Buttocks ; Child ; Contracture ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Pain ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of arthroscopic repair method of meniscus injury with Fast-fix under local anesthesia.

METHODSFrom October 2005 to September 2012,106 patients with meniscus injuries admitted into our - hospital were studied, including 74 males and 32 females, ranging in age from 13 to 71 years old, averaged 27.6 years old. The duration of the disease ranged from 15 days to 5 years. The main clinical manifestations included knee joint pain after exercise, joint locking, pressing pain of knee joint and positive McMurray signs. The MRI showed meniscus tear or degeneration. Arthroscopic repairing surgeries were performed with Fast-fix under local anesthesia. Each patient was assessed with VAS pain evaluation and Lysholm knee-joint score system before and after operation. All the patients were followed up more than 1 year.

RESULTSOne hundred and 2 patients were followed up by recording subjective symptoms, clinical examinations and questions naires for an average of 2.6 years (ranged, 1.1 to 8 years), and 4 patients lost follow-up. All the 102 patients had no anesthetic complications. Ninety-six patients had normal subjective symptom and clinical examinations. Four patients had a mild ache with activities,2 patients had moderate pain after activities with joint space pressing pain. VAS pain evaluation and Lysholm knee-joint score after operation both were much better than that before operation.

CONCLUSIONonclusion: Local anesthesia can provide nice circumstances for surgeries. Arthroscopic repair using Fast-fix is an idea method for meniscus injury, especially for the posterior horn tear of medial meniscus, which is simple and convenient with less complications, and satisfactory results.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Local ; methods ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries ; Visual Analog Scale ; Young Adult