Aim To investigate the effects of paclitaxel(PTX) on the expression of CD69, CD25 and proliferation of T cells by polyclonal stimulas in vitro, and explore the molecular mechanism of paclitaxel. Methods Fluorescence conjugated monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry were used to detect the express of CD69 and CD25 by activated T cells in vitro in response to Concanavalin(Con A) and Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate(PDB) or T cell proliferation index stained by CFDA-SE in response to PDB+Ion or Con A. Results Paclitaxel had no effect on the expression of CD69, but inhibited the expression of CD25 in activated T cells in response to Con A or PDB in a concentration-dependent manner. Paclitaxel caused a dose-dependent suppression of T cell proliferation to Con A as well as to PDB+Ion. Whether added at the beginning or after 24 h of stimulation by Con A or PDB+Ion, paclitaxel had identical effects. Conclusion The mid and later activation and proliferation of murine T cells stimulated by Con A or PDB+Ion were significantly inhibited by paclitaxel, suggesting that paclitaxel acts on the downstream signaling pathways of PKC?,and not act on the intitial activated associated proteins such as PTK and PKC?.

Animals ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Muramidase ; biosynthesis ; Quartz ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

With the development of basic disciplines such as molecular biology,immunology,cell biology and so on. the pathogen biology research do not stop at the organ and cellular level,but go deep into the protein and gene level. It is a great boost to the deep studies of pathogen biology in diagnosis,treatment,pathogenesis,prevention and epidemiology.

Objective To evaluate the incidence and severity of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with different leg deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).Methods A total of 145 cases who had been confirmed DVT and undergone CTPA were retrospectively analyzed.The DVTs were divided into left side DVT,right side DVT,and bilateral lower DVT groups.The incidence of PE was compared among different groups.CT obstruction index (CTI) was used to estimate the severity of pulmonary artery obstruction.DVT/PEs with CTI were compared among different groups.Results The incidence of PE of the bilateral lower DVT group was 71.4％,which was higher than that in left side DVT group (39.2％).However,no significant difference was found between bilateral lower DVT group and right side DVT group (52.9％) (P ＞ 0.05).The CTI of the bilateral lower DVT (30.20±14.20)％ was higher than that of the left side DVT (19.26 ± 14.02)％ and the right side DVT (18.56 ±11.79) ％ (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The bilateral lower DVT was more likely complicated with PE than the left side DVT,the severity of pulmonary artery obstruction of the bilateral lower DVT with PE patient was higher than that of single side DVT with PE patient.

Objective To explore the effect of lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)on blood-brain barrier(BBB) permeability and its possible mechanism.Methods LPA or LPA+suramin(L+S)were stereotaxically injected into the right eaudate nucleus in SD rats in vivo.Evans blue(EB)was used to quantitatively measure the permeability of BBB at different time points.The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 was detected by immunohistochemistry technique.The pathological ultrastruetural changes of BBB were assessed by transmission electron microscopy.Results The BBB permeability began to increase after LPA administered into ipsilateral eaudate nucleus,and reached the peak at 24h.Then the permeability of BBB gradually lowered after 48h.In comparison with the same time points of control group,there were quite significant differences(P＜0.01).After L+S was injected,the change of BBB permeability had differences in comparison with those of LPA group in the same time points,(P＜0.05).MMP-9 positive cells were mainly vascular endothelial cells.The numbers of MMP-9 positive blood vessels grew at 6h in LPA group,and the expression of it reached maximum at 24h,then the number of it decreased at 48h,showing significant statistical differences in comparison with the L+S group(P＜0.01),It was observed microscopically that ultrastrueture of BBB of the LPA group was changed sharply,such as basement membrane roughed and fragmented,astroeyte end-feet swolled markedly and perivaseular space enlarged obviously.But there were no remarkable changes in BBB in L+S group.Conclusion LPA can induce increase of BBB permeability and its possible mechanism is the strong expression of MMP-9 protein produeted by endothelial cells through the mediation of LPA receptor,leading to degradation of basement membrane.

A 29-year-old woman was admitted to the Department of Rheumatology,Peking Union Medical College Hospital due to intermittent rashes,fever and headache.Palpable purpura were symmetrically distributed on the extremities and trunk.Other manifestations included headache with nausea and vomiting.Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count,platelet (PLT) count,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein were the main laboratory findings.Antinuclear antibodies and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were negative.Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed high intracranial pressure,while routine cytology and biochemical tests of CSF were normal.Head MRI scan and PET-CT did not detect remarkable findings.A diagnosis of systemic vasculitis was confirmed by the biopsy of skin lesion which showed inflammatory infiltration of the muscular vessel wall.Combination therapy of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide lead to a rapid improvement in clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters.The patient was in stable remission till 6 month follow-up.

The Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, many studies have revealed its prominent neuroprotection function. The active ingredients in Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis could protect the nervous system in a multi-path and multi-target manner. Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis shows the neuroprotective effect by resisting oxidation, scavenging free radicals, modulating neurotransmitters and their related receptors, regulating the inflammatory factors and their related pathways, attenuating neuron apoptosis, reducing intracellular Ca2+ overloads and mitigating neurodegeneration. In this paper, the authors summarized the advance in studies on neuroprotective mechanisms of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis.
Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Uncaria ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: Intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities result in the right-to-left shunting and severe hypoxemia in liver transplantation candidates. Currently, a convenient, sensitive and effective method is absent to screen the intrapulmonary vascular dilatations.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced echocardiography on clinical diagnosis of intrapulmonary shunting in liver transplantation candidates.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The experiment, prospective controlled observation based on cases, was performed at the Hepatology Unit of the 458 Hospital of PLA (Guangzhou, Guangdong, China) from February 2004 to February 2006.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four consecutive liver transplantation candidates were recruited from the Hepatology Unit of the 458Hospital of PLA.METHODS: Routine examination was conducted under the condition without any regimen of vascular dilatation drugs.Contrast-enhanced echocardiography was applied to detect the prevalence of right-to-left shunting in the patients with end-stage liver disease. The microvesicle of the left ventricle in patients was qualitatively assessed by a score from 1+ to 3+. Accordingly, all patients were divided into two groups: intrapulmonary shunting and non-intrapulmonary shunting.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of right-to-left shunting and clinical characteristics of liver transplantation candidates were determined.RESULTS: Ten (41.7%) of 24 patients with positive contrast-enhanced echocardiography were proved to develop the intrapulmonary right-to-left shunting, including 6 for l+ and 4 for 2+ by left ventricle abnormality, which emerged after 6-10 cardiac cycles of right ventricle abnormality. There were no significant differences in age, gender, arterial blood gas analysis and liver function tests between the two groups (P > 0.05). Echocardiography results demonstrated that, the upper digestive tract hemorrhage,spleen thickness that indicated portal hypertension, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and Tei index were significandy higher in the patients of intrapulmonary shunting than in those of non-intrapulmonary shunting (P<0.05-0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Intrapulmonary vascular dilatation occurs frequently in liver transplantation candidates associated with intrapulmonary shunting but without hypoxemia. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography is a sensitive and non-invasive method for the early diagnosis of intrapulmonary vascular dilatation. The pathogenic cause is portal hypertension. Tel index can be used as an important parameter for evaluating right ventricular function in patients of intrapulmonary vascular dilatation.

Objective To analyze the distribution of image noise in low-dose chest CT scan and optimize the relative scanning parameters.Methods The CT images of the Chinese anthropomorphic chest phantom( CDP-1 C) were simulated into six groups of low-dose images with different noise indexs by using an image noise addition tool.The difference between the preset noise index and analog noise value was compared.The CT images of 20 volunteers were also simulated into nine groups of low dose scans with the tube currents of 10,30,50,80,100,120,150,180 and 240 mA.The noise values of images were recorded and analyzed.Results There was no statistical difference between the analog noise value and the noise index.The image noise of low-dose chest scan was increased with the decrease of tube current.The noise was increased quickly when the current was decreased from 50 to 30 mA ( F =24.09 - 40.79,P ＜ 0.05),but the noise increased slowly when the current decreased from 240 to 80 mA.There was no statistical difference between the noise of 80 mA group and that of 120 mA(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The noise addition tool can be used to evaluate the image noise of low-dose chest CT scan.Adoption of 80 mA in chest CT scan would result in low radiation dose without adding image noise.

Objective To compare the efficacy of continuous lumbar plexus block (LPB) with different concentrations of dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.Methods Sixty elderly patients of both sexes,aged 65-85 yr,weighing 50-71 kg,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,scheduled for elective total hip replacement,were divided into 2 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:0.5 μg/ml dexmedetomidine+0.1％ ropivacaine group (group D1) and 1.0 μg/ml dexmedetomidine + 0.1％ ropivacaine group (group D2).Lumbar-sacral plexus block combined with general anesthesia was used.At the end of operation,LPB pump was started and set up to deliver a 4 ml bolus dose with a 30 min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 8 ml/h.The analgesia solution contained 0.5 μg/ml dexmedetomidine and 0.1％ ropivacaine in group D1 and 1.0 μg/ml dexmedetomidine and 0.1％ ropivacaine in group D2.Postoperative analgesia lasted for 48 h,and the visual analogue scale score was maintained ≤ 3.Patientcontrolled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) pump was connected when break-through pain happened.PCIA solution contained morphine 50 mg diluted to 50 ml in 0.9％ sodium chloride.PCIA pump was set up to deliver a 1 ml bolus dose with a 5 min lockout interval and no background infusion.When the visual analogue scale score ＞3,the patient-controlled LPB pump was used first,and 15 min later if analgesia was still ineffective,PCIA pump was applied.The number of patients in whom analgesia was effective and occurrence of adverse reactions were recorded.Results Compared with group D1,the rate of effective analgesia was significantly increased,and the incidence of nausea,vomiting and pruritus was decreased in group D2 (P＜ 0.05).No bradycardia,hypotension,over-sedation,respiratory depression,urinary retention or local skin infection was found in the two groups.Conclusion Continuous LPB with 1.0 μg/ml dexmedetomidine added to 0.1％ ropivacaine provides better efficacy for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.