OBJECTIVETo further study the binding character of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta2GP I) and to explore whether beta2GP I plays an important role in the hepatotropism of hepatitis B virus.

METHODSUsing Western blot technique, we observed the binding character of the HBsAg with reduced and non-reduced beta2GP I.

RESULTSrHBsAgs with reduced and non-reduced beta2GP I showed identical binding activity.

CONCLUSIONSThe binding activity of HBsAg is dependent on tandem residues, but not on conformational structures of beta2GP I. There is a specific binding between HBV and beta2GP I, which may play an important role in HBV infection and is one of the reasons of hepatotropism of HBV.

Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; blood ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Yufeining, a traditional Chinese medicine, on induced sputum interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable phase.

METHODSThirty-six patients with COPD were divided into trial group (18 cases) and control group (18 cases) randomly. The trial group was treated with Yufeining pills taken orally for half a year; the control group was not given any medicine. Routine lung function was recorded before and after treatment. Total cell count (TCC), differential cell counts (DCCs) and IL-8 in induced sputum were determined at the baseline and 6 months later.

RESULTSThe indices of lung function improved significantly after 6 months' treatment in trial group (P < 0.05); TCC and absolute neutrophil count decreased significantly compared with baseline in the trial group (P < 0.05); Sputum IL-8 concentration dropped significantly after 6 months' treatment, from a mean of 5.216 +/- 2.914 microg/L to 4.222 +/- 2.140 microg/L (P < 0.05). There were insignificant changes in the parameters in the control group between baseline and 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONYufeining could improve lung function, decrease sputum TCC, absolute neutrophil count and IL-8 concentration, and relieve airway inflammation in patients with COPD in the stable phase.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; analysis ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sputum ; chemistry

AIMTo examine the effect of sildenafil citrate on penile erection of male rhesus macaque.

METHODSTwenty Macaca mulatta were divided into the sildenafil treated and the control groups of 10 animals each. The penile size, the corpus cavernosal electromyogram (EMG) and the intra-corpus cavernosal pressure (ICP) were determined.

RESULTSThe diameter of penis and the ICP were significantly increased and the corpus cavernosal EMG significantly reduced in the sildenafil group.

CONCLUSIONSildenafil citrate increases the penile size and ICP and reduces the corpus cavernosal EMG in male rhesus macaque.

Animals ; Electromyography ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; physiology ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Purines ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Study on features of acupoints with resistance test in the past half century is reviewed in this article. Mechanism and technology of the method are introduced as well as its shortcomings. The determination method of signal transmission along meridians with the combination of electrical network theories and practice is advanced. And the result of a series experiments on one meridian at the superficial part of the body are given as well. Thus, it is concluded that the signals of the point-in/point-out and the signals along a non-meridian path with the same distance are significantly different, which gives a verification of the feasibility of the method by using electrical network theories to set out characteristics of signal transmission along meridians dynamically.
Acupuncture Points ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Electrophysiology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Meridians ; Signal Transduction

Objective To establish of a close loop blood information system forreal time monitoring in the entire process of clinical blood transfusion.Methods In accordance with files and laws in clinical blood transfusion and combining the work in blood transfusion department with the actual needs of clinical blood transfusion,the blood transfusion department in Shaanxi Provinical People's Hospital developed the close-loop blood information system with Skynet Software Co.Ltd.Results The close-loop blood information system was achieved informational management patternthat was detailed information from blood products arrival to departure and whole process of evaluation transfusion effect.The link of Hospital Information Manage System (HIS),Laboratory Information System (LIS) and blood information system was completed with the system.The system realized real-time and accurate data collection and monitoring.The system achieved a closed-loop management of the entire process of clinical blood transfusion.Conclusion By using theclose loop blood information system,the quality of medical services can be improved,the work productivity can be increased,and the clinical blood transfusion can be rationalized.

Lianhua Qingwen preparation （LHQW） is a Chinese traditional patent medicine approved by China Food and Drug Administration （CFDA）， and divided into two dosage forms， namely capsules and granules. Based on TCM theory， its therapeutic functions are contagion-clearing， detoxification， antipyretic， and lung-ventilating regulation， with influenza as its indication. In this paper， its pharmacological activities were reviewed. LHQW had a significant anti-virus effect characterized by a broad-spectrum pattern. It was reported that it not only possessed definitely suppressive effect on a series of influenza viruses， respiratory syncytial virus， coxsackie， enterovirus， herpes simplex virus，but also displayed a significant inhibitory effect on both the new corona pneumonia virus （SARS-CoV-2） and SARS coronavirus （SARS-CoV）. Studies showed that LHQW has obvious anti-inflammatory effects on a variety of inflammation models. It can significantly increase the delayed hypersensitivity of immunocompromised mice （caused by hydrocortisone） against 2， 4-dinitrofluorobenzene， and improve their cellular immune function. It can improve the phagocytosis function of peritoneal macrophages， the serum hemolysin antibody level and the humoral immune function of mice with a low immune function， with a immunomodulatory effect. In addition， LHQW has therapeutic effects on the symptoms induced by respiratory tract infections， such as fever， cough and phlegm， so as to block the vicious circle of multiple pathological links of the disease， and bring the advantages of multi-target， multi-link and multi-approach overall treatment of TCM into play.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tetrandrine on transforming growth factor-β₁（TGF-β₁）stimulated MRC-5 cells. Method:Different concentrations of TGF-β₁ (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μg·L^-1) were applied to MRC-5 cells. Proliferation toxicity of TGF-β₁ to MRC-5 was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. Detection of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Vimentin's expression levels in MRC-5 by Western blot. Detection of changes of collagen I(Col-I) and fibronectin (FN)'s expression levels in MRC-5 supernatants by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit. And the appropriate concentration of TGF-β₁ activated MRC-5 cells was screened. The appropriate concentration of TGF-β₁ and different concentrations of Tet (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μmol·L^-1) were applied to MRC-5 cells, and CCK-8 method was used to screen safe concentration again. Western blot was used to detect changes in α-SMA and Vimentin expression levels in MRC-5 cells, and ELISA method to detect changes in Col-I and FN in MRC-5 cell supernatant. Result:Compared with the blank group, 20，40 μg·L^-1 of TGF-β₁ had toxic effects on MRC-5 cells at 24 hours (P<0.05), and 10，20，40 μg·L^-1 of TGF-β₁ had toxic effects on MRC-5 cells at 48 h (P<0.05).When Tet is added for 24 h, the half inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value was 14.07 μmol·L^-1, and when cultured for 48 h, the IC₅₀ value was 7.51 μmol·L^-1. Compared with the blank group, the relative contents of α-SMA, FN and Col-I in the 5 μg·L^-1 of TGF-β₁ group were obviously increased (P<0.05), and the relative contents of Vimentin were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the relative contents of FN and Col-I, α-SMA and Vimentin in 10 μg·L^-1 group were significantly increased (P<0.01). 10 μg·L^-1 of TGF-β₁ was co-cultured with Tet at different concentrations. Compared with the TGF-β₁ group, the relative levels of α-SMA, Vimentin and FN in the 5 μmol·L^-1 of Tet group were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the relative levels of Col-I were obviously reduced (P<0.05). In the Tet 10 μmol·L^-1 group, the relative contents of the α-SMA, Vimentin, FN and Col-I were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion:TGF-β₁ can increase the levels of Col-I, FN and other extracellular matrices in MRC-5 cells, and Tet can effectively inhibit the occurrence of this change. It is suggested that Tet may inhibit secreting extracellular matrix of fibroblasts in the formation of pulmonary fibrosis.