OBJECTIVETo study the influence of modified Shegan Mahuang Decoction (SGMH) on cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-13 in children suffered from cough and variant asthma (C&VA).

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-four children with C&VA were randomly assigned to two groups: 79 in the treatment group were medicated orally with SGMH one dose per day taking in twice; 75 in the control group were medicated with Montelukast once a day in dose of 4 mg for children aged from 2 to 5 years and 5 mg for those from 6 to 14 years, the medication for all was given 4 weeks. Serum contents of cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-13, in patients were measured before and after treatment. Besides, serum contents of these cytokines in 45 healthy children were measured for control.

RESULTSSerum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-3 in the treatment group were 2510 +/- 1500 ng/L and 60.76 +/- 23.67 ng/L, and in the control group, 2890 +/- 1410 ng/L and 61.56 +/- 20.37 ng/L, respectively, all were significantly higher than those of healthy (709 +/- 280 ng/L and 39.49 +/- 3.09 ng/L, P < 0.01); but level of IL-10 was significant lower in the two patient groups than that in control (1546 +/- 1434 ng/L and 1823 +/- 1314 ng/L vs 7123 +/- q2641 ng/L, P < 0.01). After treatment, the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-13 decreased and IL-10 increased significantly in the treatment group, and showed significant different to those in the control group respectively (960 +/- 420 ng/L, 43.67 +/- 12.37 ng/L and 6834 +/- 2216 ng/L vs 2610 +/- 1220 ng/L, 50.56 +/-19.56 ng/L and 2529 +/- 1223 ng/L, P < 0.01). Clinical efficacy between groups also showed that the total effective rate in the treatment group was significantly better (86.07% vs. 42.67%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGMH can regulate the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-13, and shows evident clinical effect in treating children's C&VA.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; blood ; drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ephedra sinica ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-13 ; blood ; Interleukin-3 ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

ObjectiveTo study the characteristics of the distribution and drug resistance ofAcinetobacter baumannii, and the epidemiology of the main strains among wards and hospitals, and to investigate the role of outer membrane protein in producing resistance against carbapenems.Methods 145Acinetobacter baumannii strains were collected from July 2013 to July 2014 from Huangdao Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University and 401st Army Hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out with K-B disk diffusion method. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) was used for DNA typing and test of homology. The carO gene of outer membrane protein was amplified by PCR, and the outer membrane proteins were extracted by ultrasonication and ultracentrifuge method from 30 randomly selected carbapenem-resistantAcinetobacter baumannii and 17 carbapenem-sensitive strains. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electropheresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to analyze the expressions of outer membrane proteins.Results 145Acinetobacter baumannii strains were generally resistant to 16 common antimicrobial agents, with the highest susceptibility rate of 79.3% for minocycline, followed by susceptibility rate of 40.7% for amikacin. There were 128 carbapenem-resistant strains (resistance rate of 88.3%), 137 multidrug-resistant strains and 126 extensively drug-resistant strains. The detection rates of carO gene were 97.7%(125/128)and 17.6%(3/17) in carbapenem-resistant and sensitive strains respectively. Around position of relative molecular mass 47 000, 16 of 17 sensitive isolates were expressed this protein, while 20 of 30 resistant ones were detected nothing or fade; 13 of 17 sensitive isolates were expressed around position of relative molecular mass 37 000 and 29 000 while 25 were detected nothing or fade around position of relative molecular mass 37 000 and 23 were detected nothing or fade around position of relative molecular mass 29 000 in 30 resistant ones. 145Acinetobacter baumannii were classified into 8 types based on ERIC-PCR electrophoresis patterns, and the major prevalence types were type A (71 strains) and type E (37 strains).Conclusions Drug resistance of clinically isolatedAcinetobacter baumannii is a serious problem in two hospitals; drug-resistant strains are spread and epidemic among wards and hospitals. The carO gene of outer membrane protein is widespread in carbapenem-resistantAcinetobacter baumannii. The loss or fading of outer membrane protein may play an important role inAcinetobacter baumannii resistance to carbapenems drugs.

Objeetive To investigate the effect of alteration of blood flow in the hepatic artery on the therapeutic effect of cryoablation in VX2 hepatic tumor rabbit model.Methods Thirty rabbits with VX2 hepatic tumor were divided into three groups according to hepatic artery blood flow:complete occlusion of the hepatic artery(group A),paaial occlusion of the hepatic artery(group B),and no occlusion of the hepatic artery(group C).With conventional CT scau and perfusion scan,the values of blood flow(BF)and blood volume(BV)of VX2 tumor were computed and the differences among the three groups were analyzed.After cryoablation,the animals were euthanized and the livers were removed.The hepatic tissue from the cryoablation area and surrounding area underwent both methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)diaphorase staining and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining.The gross pathology and histopathological 3.14)ml/100 g in group C,respectively.There were significant differences among the three groups in the BF and BV(F value was 452.16 and 421.33 in the BF and BV,respectively,P＜0.01);(2)The maximum diameter of cryoablation-induced necrosis was(2.3±0.3)cm in group A,(1.5±0.2)cm in group B,and(0.8±0.1)cm in group C,respectively.The difference was significant among the groups (F value was 315.32,P＜0.01).(3)There were well-defined frozen areas.bordering areas and normal surrounding areas in MTT staining.In group C,positive staining around some blood vessels could be seen.Conclusion Alteration of the blood flow in the hepetatic artery can affect the cryoablation efficacy.With the decrease of hepatic artery blood flow,the efficacy of cryoablation on liver tumor increased.

Twelve cases of Bartter's syndrome were reported and reviewed retrospectively.Usually vomiting was the first sympton in children,while fatigue was common in adults.Bartter's syndrome was characteristic of hypokalemia,metabolic alkalosis,elevations of plasma renin activity,serum angiotersinⅡand aldosterone and juxtaglomerular apperatus hyperplasia.Supplementation of potassium choloride was the main manner of therapy.

The epieardial adipose tissue in 210 subjects with or without metabolic syndrome (MS) was measured by echocardiography.The thickness of epicardial adipose tissue in male with MS group was significantly greater than that in men without MS [(9.10?3.59) mm vs (6.82?3.00) mm,P

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the feature of D(L)CO (Diffusion Lung Capacity for Carbon Monoxide) in CHF (left ventricular heart failure) patients, underlying pathophysiological mechanism and clinical significance.

METHODSWe retrospectively studied the D(L)CO, pulmonary ventilation function, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and related clinical information in severer HF patients.

RESULTSPeak VO2 severely decreased to 34 ± 7 percentage of predicted(%pred) and anaerobic threshold to 48 ± 11%pred in all patients. D(L)CO moderately decreased to 63 ± 12%pred and there were 25 patients lower than 80%pred. FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and TLC were 75 ± 14%pred, 71 ± 17%pred, 97 ± 11%pred, and 79 ± 13%pred, which indicated borderline or mild restrictive ventilatory dysfunction. The decrease of D(L)CO was more severe than those of TLC, FEV1 and FVC.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with severe CHF, cardiopulmonary exercise function is extremely limited, D(L)CO generally moderately declines and ventilation function is merely mildly limited. D(L)CO is the parameter for cardiopulmonary coupling, reflecting limitation of the cardiovascular dysfunction while without ventilatory limit.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; physiopathology

The GFP(green fluorescence protein)-streptavidin(SA) bi-functional fusion protein was generated and characterized in order to demonstrate novel platform for efficiently and durably modifying the cell surface with SA-tagged bi-functional proteins.The GFP-SA/pET24d construct was generated and expressed in BL21(DE3) host bacteria at the high level.The recombinant protein GFP-SA was purified through the Ni-NTA affinity chromatography,and then refolded.After biotinylation B16 tumor cells were modified with GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein and then subjected to fluorescent microscopy and FACS analysis.The effect of surface modification on the viability and growth of B16.F10 tumor cells was evaluated by MTT staining.The GFP-SA recombinant fusion protein was expressed in BL21(DE3) at about 20 % of total bacterial proteins.The GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein exhibited the bi-functionality,i.e.,SA-mediated high-affinity binding to biotinylated cell surfaces and GFP-emitted green fluorescence.The cell surface modification with GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein did not affect the viability and growth of the modified B16.F10 tumor cells significantly.The GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein was obtained and could be displayed efficiently on the surface of the biotinylated B16.F10 tumor cells through the specific and tight interaction between streptavidin and biotin,thus can be used as good trace protein and experimental control in the development of surface-modified tumor vaccine.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and security of cypher stent(sirolimus-eluting stent)in the treatment of old patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods From November 2002 to May 2005,328 elderly CHD cases(age:60-86 years)were treated with 415 Cypher stents.Among the 328 patients,66 had ST-segment elevation of myocardial infarction,21 had non ST-segment elevation of myocardial infarction,149 had unstable angina and 92 had stable angina.As for lesion characteristics,diffuse disease was found in 91 case(26.1%),bifurcation lesions in 68 cases(19.6%),chronic total occlusion lesions in 56 cases(16.0%),in-stent restenosis in 14 cases and ostial lesions in 15 case.The immediate angiographic outcome,major cardiac event(MACE) and angiographic follow-up at 6 months were assessed.Results Stent implantation was successfully achieved in 99% patients with CHD.Acute and sub-acute stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients,late stent thrombosis with AMI occurred in 2 patients,1 died during the 6 months follow-up.The MACE rate during hospitalization was 0.6% and 3.6% during 6 months follow-up.Angiographic follow-up in 84 patients at 6 months showed that in-stent restenosis rate(ISR)was 8.3%(restenosis within the stents was 2.4%).The target vessel revascularization(TLR)rate was 5.9%.Conclusions Cypher stent implantation in CHD is safe and effective,the ISR rate and TLR rate are significantly lower than those of bare metal stents.

Bacteria ; chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbiological Techniques ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

Objective:To explore the gene differential expression pattern of polycystic ovary syn-drome.Methods:We carried out microarray analysis to define the gene networks by the PCOS granulosacells in order to identify differentially expressed genes in PCOS patients.These granulosa cells of fivePCOS cases and five control cases which were derived during oocyte retrieval from women undergoingIVF.Results:As compared with control human ovarian granulosa cells,46 genes were screened out,25genes were up-regulated,and 21genes were down-regulated in PCOS.These differentially expressedgenes were involved in various biologic functions,such as regulation of fatty acid metabolism,cell-cellsignal transduction,immune and inflammatory response,reflecting the complexity of clinical manifesta-tions of PCOS.Conclusion:Microarray analysis technology is an effective mothod to identify novel PCOSassociated candidate genes.