Objective To study the influence of Dahuang granule on the level of motilin in plasma and gastrin in serum of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Sixty-four patients with SAP were divided into Dahuang granule group (32 cases) and control group (32 cases), treated with Dahuang granule and routine therapy respectively. The level of motilin in plasma and gastrin in serum of the two groups were detected by radioimmunoassay method. Results After treated for one week, the level of motilin in Dahuang granule group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P

Macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previously, studies have shown that changes in the metabolism of glucose, choline, amino acids and lipids in macrophages of patients with RA can lead to the accumulation of metabolic intermediates which can act as inflammatory signaling molecules to aggravate the inflammation and cause complications. Therefore, a full understanding of the metabolic process of macrophages in RA patients will lay the foundation for macrophage-targeted therapy of RA. In this review, not only the role of macrophage abnormal metabolism in the pathogenesis of RA but also the research progress on macrophage-targeted drugs in RA treatment will be discussed.

Objective To prepare dual-targeted microbubbles carrying both anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody and anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody,to identify its basic characteristics,and to investigate its targeting performance in vitro.Methods ICAM-1-targeted microbubbles (MgIcAM-1),CD34-targeted microbubbles(MBcD34) and dual-targeted (with both monoclonal antibodies) microbubbles (MBD) were prepared by biotin-avidin bridging chemistry method.The targeted microbubbles were observed under light microscrope and characterized by a Mastersizer 3000,DFY software,laser confocal microscopy,and flow cytometry.The targeting specificity and attachment capability of dual-targeted microbubbles to endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and damaged human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were assessed in vitro.Results The morphous,diameter,surface potential,concentration,and the antibody-binding rates of microbubbles were not statistically significant in MBIcAM-1,MBCD34,and MBD (P ＞0.05).Echo intensity in MBD significantly increased compared with MBICAM1,MBCD34,and MBiotin (P ＜ 0.01).The targeting experiment in vitro showed that the attachment rate of MBD to EPCs and damaged HUVECs significantly increased compared with MBiotin (P ＜0.01),while no remarkable difference in attachment rate was found between MBD and MBcD34 in EPCs,and between MBD and MBIcAM-1 in damaged HUVECs (P ＞0.05).Conclusions Dual-targeted microbubbles carrying both anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody and anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody are prepared successfully.The study in vitro has proved that the dual-targeted microbubbles can specifically bind to both EPCs and damaged HUVECs.

Aim To evaluate the effect of CYP1A1 on intracellular Ca2+ in human vascular endothelial cells(HVEC304).Methods The expression plasmid of human CYP1A1 was constructed,HVEC304 was transfected,and the intracellular calcium ion level was monitored by microfluorescent technique.Result The expression plasmid of human CYP1A1 was constructed and its expression location was extranuclear.In HVEC304 cells over-expressing CYP1A1(HVEC304-CYP1A1),Ca2+ basal level decreased obviously(P

Objective To evaluate whether the thermotaxis tracking model is suitable for assessing long-term memory (LTM)in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Animals were trained at 20 ℃ overnight in presence of food. The percentage of animals performing isothermal tracking (IT) behavior was measured at different time intervals after the training.Results The percentage of animals performing IT behavior, the numbers of body bends inside and outside the training temperature, and the expression patterns of AFD and AIY neurons were similar to those in control animals at 36 and 48 h after training; whereas when extending to 60, 72, and 84 h, locomotory behavior defects were observed in the assayed animals,suggesting that this thermal tracking model is feasible for analyzing LTM at 36 and 48 h after training. Moreover, the percentage of animals performing IT behavior was reduced at 18, 36, and 48 h after training in neuronal calcium sensor-1 gene (nsc-1)mutant animals compared with that in wild-type N2 animals. In addition, exposure to plumbum (Pb) significantly repressed the LTM at 18, 36, and 48 h after training in both wild-type N2 and ncs-1 mutant animals. Conclusion The thermotaxis tracking model is suitable for evaluating the LTM regulated by NCS-1, and can be employed for elucidating regulatory functions of specific genes or effects of stimuli on memory in C. elegans.

Model invertebrate organism Caenorhabditis elegans has become an ideal model to unravel the complex processes of memory. C. elegans has three simple forms of memory: memory for thermosensation, memory for chemosensation, and memory for mechanosensation. In the form of memory for mechanosensation, short-term memory, intermediate-term memory,and long-term memory have been extensively studied. The short-term memory and intermediate-term memory may occur in the presynaptic sensory neurons, whereas the long-term memory may occur in the postsynaptic interneurons. This review will discuss the recent progress on genetic and molecular regulation of memory in C. elegans.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and intubation in very low birth weight preterm infants. Methods One hundred and twenty-three very low birth weight preterm infants with respiratory distress within 60 minutes after birth were randomly assigned to nCPAP (n=63) or intubation group (n=60).Outcomes at 7,28 days and 36 corrected gestational weeks were assessed with x2 or t-test. ResultsThere were no significant difference in fatality rate and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia between nCPAP group and intubation group [7.9％ (5/63) vs 6.6％(4/60),4.8％(3/63) vs 3.3％(2/60),x2 =0.07and 0.16,P＞0.05].In nCPAP group,the use of pulmonary sulfactant was 27.0％ (17/63),lower than that (83.3 ％,50/60) in intubation group (x2 =39.34,OR=0.3,90 ％ CI:0.2-0.6,P＜0.05) ;The nCPAP group had fewer ventilation support in 28 days [17.5％ (11/63) vs 25.0％ (15/60),OR=0.7,90％ CI:0.4-1.4] and 36 weeks [6.3％ (4/63) vs 8.3％ (5/60),OR=0.8,90％ CI:0.2-2.4] than those in intubation group but without statistical difference (x2=1.05 and 0.01,P＞0.05,respectively).The incidence of air leak in nCPAP group were lower than intubation group [11.1％ (7/63) vs 33.3％ (20/60),x2 =8.86,OR=0.3,90％00 CI:0.2-0.7,P＜0.05].There was no significant difference for other complications between two groups. ConclusionsIn very low birth weight preterm infants,early nCPAP dose not significantly reduce the fatality rate and the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia as compared with intubation ventilation,but shorten the time of ventilation and lower the incidence of air leak.

Objective To investigate the association of chlamydia pneumoniae infection with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).MethodsSerum samples were obtained from 33 AS patients and 22 healthy controls.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to mearsure serum anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies (IgM/IgG),while immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to detect Chlamydia pneumoniae LPS antigen,and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in peripheral blood cells. Immunohistochemistical technique was applied to examine Chlamydia pneumoniae LPS antigen in synovial tissue from another 9 AS patients who received total hip replacement and 13 patients with comminuted femoral fractures.ResultsThe positive rates of Chlamydia pneumoniae IgM,LPS antigen and chlamydia pneumoniae DNA were higher in AS patients than those in healthy controls (78.8％ vs 22.7％,x2 =16.867,P =0.000; 66.7％ vs 31.8％,x2 =6.431,P =0.011; 33.3％ vs 9.1％,x2 =4.298,P =0.038).Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA positive rate was correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (Z =-2.774 and -2.829,P =0.004).In synovial tissues,chlamydial LPS-containing inflammatory cells were observed in 77.8％(7/9) AS patients,while those in fracture patients was 30.8％ ( 4/13 ) ( P =0.08 ).Conclusion Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is common in blood circulation and joint cavity of AS patients and may be associated with the pathogenesis of AS.

The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is strongly associated with invasion and metastasis.Recently,the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been confirmed to be the cytological foundation of invasion and metastasis.Yet,the molecular mechanism of inducing and maintaining EMT has not been expounded completely.However,it has been demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β),phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT),nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB),Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways play pivotal roles in the initiation and development of EMT.These signaling pathways can affect the prognosis of HCC by regulating EMT.From a drug development perspective,these signal pathways are potential and attractive targets for HCC treatment.

Objective To investigate the effects of amplitude dependent morphological and proliferative changes in human bladder smooth muscle cells (hBSMCs) undergoing physiological stretch in vitro.Methods The hBSMCs were cuhured on silicone membrane and stretched similarly to a bladder cycle at range of stretches and time.The elongation would increase up to 2.5％ every 3 h and 5％ (or 10％,15％,20％ and 25％ depending on the experiment design) in the next 1 h,followed by a rapid decrease,cyclically maintained for a total of 16 h.In subsequent 8 h (24 h cycles) the membrane was maintained in relaxed position.Immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscope were employed to assess the morphological changes.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry were used to assess the cell proliferation.Results The hBSMCs showed contractile phenotype after application of mechanical strain.Compared with control,the strains at 5％,10％,15％,20％ and 25％ induced most of the cells to change from a more spread-out and stellate state with large cell surface contact areas to a typical spindle-like morphology.The orientation angle of BSMCs remarkably differed depending on the applied strain's magnitude.Absorbance value,which reflects the proliferation activity,analyzed by CCK-8 was improved from 0.471 ± 0.027 (control) to 1.320 ± 0.094 (5％ elongation group,P ＜ 0.0001),1.001 ± 0.029 (10％ elongation group,P ＜0.0001),0.821 ±0.032 (15％ elongation group,P＜0.0001),0.621 ±0.032 (20％ elongation group,P =0.0004) and 0.591 ± 0.056 (25％ elongation group,P =0.0268),respectively.Cell proliferation index increased from (29.35 ±0.55)％ (control) to (55.55 ± 1.05)％ (5％ elongation group,P ＜0.0001),(47.70 ±0.20)％ (10％ elongation group,P＜0.0001),(35.40 ±2.10)％ (15％ elongation group,P ＜0.0001),respectively.However,no significant difference was found in either 20％ elongation group (34.85 ±0.55)％ (P=0.1372) or 25％ elongation group (30.35 ±0.45)％ (P=0.5234).Conclusions Proliferative and morphological changes could be observed in hBSMCs in vitro.Maximal proliferative potential could be seen at 5％ of stretch.