AIM: To explore regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced elevation of Ca 2+ intracellular level in alveolar macrophages(AMs) from patients with chronic bronchitis by Angelica Sinensis and nifedipine.METHODS:AMs was obtained from 7 patients with chronic bronchitis and 6 normal controls by bronchoalveolar lavage and intracellular Ca 2+ level was detected after adding Angelica Sinensis, nifedipine or LPS to the supernatant of AMs loaded by Fura-2. RESULTS: In contrast with normal control group (99.65?32.21 nmol/L), intracellular Ca 2+ level in AMs from chronic bronchitis group (189.47?23.69 nmol/L) was increased significantly in the absence of extracellular Ca 2+ but not 1 mmol/L. Intracellular Ca 2+ level in AMs from chronic bronchitis group were significantly increased by adding 10 ?g/mL LPS to the supernatant of AMs. LPS-induced elevation of intracellular Ca 2+ level in AMs from chronic bronchitis group was completely inhibited by Angelica Sinensis or nifedipine.CONCLUSION: Both Anelica Sinensis and nifedipine may inhibit activation of AMs from patients with chronic bronchitis by reducing LPS-induced elevation of intracellular Ca 2+ level in AMs, suggested that these two medicines may inhibit non-specific inflammation of airways in chronic bronchitis.

Complex genetic variation has been known to occur during the transmission of human enterovirus (HEV), and the HEV virulence and pathogenicity enhanced by genetic recombination also pose a serious threat to human health. In recent years, the interest in recombination mechanism of genetic plasticity has been renewed with the emergence of pathogenic recombinant circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses, which were implicated in poliomyelitis outbreaks in several regions of the world with insufficient vaccination coverage. This paper reviews recent research progress in HEV genome, including evolutionary characteristics, recombination types, and in vitro recombinant construction.
Animals ; Biomedical Research ; trends ; Enterovirus ; classification ; genetics ; Enterovirus Infections ; virology ; Humans ; Recombination, Genetic ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo measure the vertical height of mesio-distal marginal ridge to cusp in posterior teeth, which may be helpful to brackets positioning.

METHODSThe study groups comprised of 60 patients (30 men, 30 women, mostly aged 12-14 years) who underwent orthodontic treatment without tooth extraction and matched the Andrews normal occlusion standard after treatment. Study model of each patient was made. Three-dimensional laser measurer was used to evaluate the vertical height of mesio-distal marginal ridge to mesial cusp in posterior teeth. The data were stored in a personal computer and submitted to statistical analysis of paired t test.

RESULTSNo statistical significant difference was found in the same teeth between men and women. Not only in maxilla but also in mandible, there was no significant difference between the left and the right (P>0.05). The average vertical height of maxillary first premolars was (1.70+/-0.50) mm, the maxillary second premolars was (1.24+/-0.45) mm, and for maxillary first molars, the result was (0.83+/-0.40) mm. The difference between each result was statistically significant (P9< 0.01). The average vertical height of mandibular first premolars was (2.25+/-0.45) mm, the mandibular second premolars was (1.55+/-0.45) mm, and for mandibular first molars, the result was (1.18+/-0.40) mm. The difference between each result was statistically significant (P<0.0 1).

CONCLUSIONThe vertical height of brackets position in posterior teeth should be considered to guarantee that mesio-distal marginal ridges of deferent posterior teeth located in the same plane, so that satisfying goal could be achieved, If the vertical height in the first molar was X mm, the vertical height in the second premolar should be (X+0.5) mm, and (X+1.0) mm might be suit for the first premolar.

Bicuspid ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Tooth ; Tooth Extraction ; Tooth Movement Techniques

More and more new human enteroviruses (HEVs) types were identified with the broad application of the molecular serotyping methods for enteroviruses. Since enterovirus 71 (EV71) was first reported in 1969, numerous epidemic outbreaks associated with new enteroviruses have occurred all around the world, and pose a significant threat to public health . The epidemics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by EV71 infection in China have raised great concern of global scholars. This paper reviewed research progress in recent years of the molecular typing, evolution, epidemiology, and pathogenesis attributable to new enterovirus types.
Animals ; Enterovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Enterovirus Infections ; veterinary ; virology ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Pan troglodytes ; Phylogeny ; Primate Diseases ; virology

Objective To observe the anatomic and imaging morphology ofjugnlar bulb and its relationship with the surrounding structures, and to investigate the classification ofjugnlar bulb and its clinical significance. Methods We dissected 30 human temporal bones and studied multi-slice spiral CT imaging data of temporal bone of 120 cases and blood vessel cast mould specimen of the jugular bulb of 6 cases, to observe the morphology of jugnlar bulb and its spatial relationship with the surrounding structures. We made an imagined sagittal plane on the medial well of the tympanic cavity, with a horizontal tangent line of the proximal wall of the tympanic cavity and a vertical tangent line of the posterior wall of the tympanic cavity as coordinate axes (X axis and Y axis), respectively, so the 4 quadrants ( Ⅰ , Ⅱ, Ⅳ, Ⅳ) were formed. The jugular bulb was classified intro 4 types according to the quadrant where its top was projected and subtyped according to its position on the inner or outer side of the plane. The operation via mastoid approach was simulated on specimen to observe the effect of jugnlar bulb on the operation route. Results Some jugular bulbs were flat type and others were prominent types. The classification in the group of CT image: type Ⅰ , 11 case (9%);type Ⅱ, 63 cases (53%);type Ⅲ, 25 cases (21%);type Ⅳ, 21cases (17%). The classification in the group of specimen: type Ⅰ, 1 case (3%);type Ⅱ, 11 cases (37%);type Ⅲ, 8 cases (27%);type Ⅳ, 10 cases (33%). Each type of the jugular bulb had different effects on the operative approach. Conclusions The classification method with the 4 quadrants is a simple and three-dimensional way to describe the position of the jugular bulb for imaging diagnosis or operative scheme design.

The primers and probes for the Real-time RT-PCR were designed based on the multiple sequence (swine and humans HEV strains) alignments of the ORF3 region of genotype 4 HEV. A rapid, sensitive and stable TaqMan Real-time RT-PCR assay was established, and its specificity and sensitivity were assessed, and comparison of the Real-time RT-PCR with conventional and nested RT-PCR was performed. The results found that the crossing points showed linearly proportional to the logarithm of the input copy number. The correlation coefficient (R2) and the slope value of the standard curves with plasmid DNA were 0.994 and -3.312, respectively. The efficiency (E) of the PCR was 100%. Coefficients of variation values of the different diluted plasmid DNA were low in the same or different repeated experimental group. In addition, the assay was able to correctly detect genotype 4 HEV RNA from swine fecal samples. The sensitivity of established assay was 100-fold higher than that of conventional RT-PCR and 10-fold higher than nested RT-PCR.
Animals ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Disease Reservoirs ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; Fluorescence ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; virology

Previous studies proposed that the synergistic effect of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and insulin may be due to the improvement of insulin sensitivity by FGF-21. However, there is no experimental evidence to support this. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin in the regulation of glucose metabolism. The synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin on regulating glucose metabolism was demonstrated by investigating the glucose absorption rate by insulin resistance HepG2 cell model and the blood glucose chances in type 2 diabetic db/db mice after treatments with different concentrations of FGF-21 or/and insulin; The synergistic metabolism was revealed through detecting GLUT1 and GLUT4 transcription levels in the liver by real-time PCR method. The experimental results showed that FGF-21 and insulin have a synergistic effect on the regulation of glucose metabolism. The results of real-time PCR showed that the effective dose of FGF-21 could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT1 in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on the transcription level of GLUT4. Insulin (4 u) alone could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT4, yet had no effect on that of GLUT1. Ineffective dose 0.1 mg kg(-1) FGF-21 alone could not change the transcription level of GLUT1 or GLUT4. However, when the ineffective dose 0.1 mg x kg(-1) FGF-21 was used in combination with insulin (4 u) significantly increased the transcription levels of both GLUT1 and GLUT4, the transcription level of GLUT1 was similar to that treated with 5 time concentration of FGF-21 alone; the transcription level of GLUT4 is higher than that treated with insulin (4 u) alone. In summary, in the presence of FGF-21, insulin increases the sensitivity of FGF-21 through enhancing GLUT1 transcription. Vice versa, FGF-21 increases the sensitivity of insulin by stimulating GLUT4 transcription in the presence of insulin. FGF-21 and insulin exert a synergistic effect on glucose metabolism through mutual sensitization.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Mice

BACKGROUNDValproic acid (VPA) improves early survival and organ function in a highly lethal poly-trauma and hemorrhagic shock model or other severe insults. We assessed whether VPA could improve organ function in a rat model of septic shock and illustrated the possible mechanisms.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): control group, VPA group, LPS group, and LPS + VPA group. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to replicate the experimental model of septic shock. Rats were treated with VPA (300 mg/kg, i.v.) or saline. Six hours after LPS injection, blood was sampled for gas analysis, measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Lung, liver and kidney were collected for histopathological assessment. In addition, myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-a in pulmonary tissue were measured. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung was also evaluated by Western blotting.

RESULTSLPS resulted in a significant decrease in PaO2, which was increased by VPA administration followed LPS injection. In addition, LPS also induced an increase in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, these increases were attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. The lungs, liver and kidneys from the LPS group were significantly damaged compared with the control group. However, the damage was attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. Myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in pulmonary tissue increased significantly in the LPS group compared with the control group. These increases were significantly inhibited in the LPS + VPA group. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung tissue in the LPS group was inhibited compared with the control. However, the level of acetylation of histone H3 in the LPS + VPA group was markedly elevated in contrast to the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with VPA can attenuate multiple organ damage caused by LPS induced septic shock. Our data also suggest that the beneficial effects are in part due to the decrease in inflammatory cytokines and restoration of normal acetylation homeostasis.

Acute Kidney Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Septic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Valproic Acid ; therapeutic use

Objective To estimate the effects of temperature on cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths in 4 cities-Kunming,Changsha,Guangzhou and Zhuhai,from southern part of China.Methods Daily CVD deaths,meteorological and air pollution data were used to explore the association between temperature and mortality.Distributed lag non-linear model was fitted for each city to access the delayed and cumulative effects of low,median and high temperature on CVD deaths.Cold and hot effects of temperature on CVD deaths were then accessed,based on the linear threshold model.Results The city-specific exposure-response functions appeared to be non-linear.Temperatures that associated with the lowest mortality for Changsha,Kunming,Guangzhou and Zhuhai were 22.0 ℃,20.0 ℃,26.0 ℃,and 25.5 ℃.The greatest cumulative RRs (95％CI) for CVD deaths of low temperature during the delayed period of the study in the 4 cities were 1.858 (1.089-3.170),1.537 (1.306-1.809),2.121 (1.771-2.540) and 1.934 (1.469-2.548),while 1.100 (0.816-1.483),1.061 (0.956-1.177),1.134 (1.047-1.230) and 1.259 (1.104-1.436) for high temperatures in Changsha,Kunming,Guangzhou and Zhuhai respectively.The hot effect was greater than the cold effect on the current days.The hot effect was restricted to the first week,whereas the cold effect increased over the lag days,and then last for 3-4 weeks.Conclusion The city-specific exposure-response functions appeared to be non-linear.Both high and cold temperatures were associated with increased CVD deaths,but the impact of low temperature was more notable.Cold effect was delayed by several days but last for a longer period than the hot effect did.

Objective To carry out accurate quantative evaluation of MRI scanning noise based on laser vibrometry technology.Methods Skull and spine MRI was performed with mute and conventional sequences.A laser vibrometry device was used to sample the surface vibration noise at the outer edge of the inspection hole of MRI system according to GB/T 16539-1996 Acoustics—Determination of sound power levels of noise sources using vibration velocity—Measurement for seal machinery,and the indicators of sound power level,sound pressure level and perceived noise level obtained by the three calculation methods(LPN1,LPN2 and LPN3)were analyzed with some dedicated MRI noise analysis software.Results The peak sound pressure levels for conventional and mute sequences of skull scanning were 81 and 63 dB(A),respectively,and mute sequence reduced the noise level significantly;the peak sound pressure levels for conventional and mute sequences of spine scanning were 79 and 75 dB(A),respectively,and the noise reduction level was significantly lower than that of skull scanning.Significant differences in noise reduction were not found in spine scanning sequences,while were found in skull scanning sequences.During spine and skull scanning LPN1,LPN2 and LPN3 obtained by the three calculation methods of conventional and mute sequences were all higher than the overall sound power and overall pressure levels obviously.Conclusion Mute sequence can not realize linear noise reduction for the whole frequency band,the perceived noise of the human ear during MRI scanning is related directly to the scanning sequence,and there may be some bias when only one physical indicator is involved in the noise evaluation of MRI system.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):20-24]