Objective To investigate the metabolic rules of surfactant protein A and D(SP- A,SP- D )in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)in human fetal lungs during gestational ages. Methods BALF with 30 mL saline was performed on clinically collected human fetus with induction of labor by water- bag Their BALF was respectively retrieved [total retrieval rate(85. 6% ? 13 1)% ]for analysis of protein content. The BALF SP - A and SP - D from fetus of various gestational ages or newboms were detected by RPHA and ELISA. Results The total protein in BALF gradually increased since 10th week to newborn peak during lung development. And SP - A and SP D were respectively updated from(0.34 ?0.07 ) ,(0.05?0.01) ng/L to newborn climax[ (6 42 ? 0 36),(1.22 ? 0 13)ng/L] .Conclusions The protein in BALF gradually increases with fetal growth and lung development. SP-A and SP- D may reach prenatal climax and become the main indicator of newborn lung maturity.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) as common seed cells have been widely used in tissue-engineered cartilage repair.OBJECTIVE: To use human amniotic membrane as a cell scaffold to carry rabbit BMSCs in order to repair articular cartilage defects in the femoral intercondylar fossa of rabbits.METHODS: Rabbit BMSCs were inoculated onto the human acellular amniotic membrane (HAAM) and co-cultured for 2 weeks. Articular defect models were made in the femoral intercondylar fossa of rabbits. The defects of the right knees served as blank control. BMSCs/HAAM composite was transplanted into the defect of the left knee joint as composite group, and HAAM was implanted into the defect of the left knee joint as HAAM group. These rabbits were killed at 8 and 12 weeks after implantation and the newly cartilage samples were evaluated grossly and histologically and then graded.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Gross observation showed the defects were filled with cartilaginous tissues in the composite group, and there were no cartilage tissues in the HAAM group, while only fibrous tissues were seen in the blank control group. Histologically, the defect region was full of chondrocytes in the composite group,immunohistochemistry staining indicated that collagen II was rich in the tissue, and furthermore, the cartilage matrix was stained deeply by toluidine blue. In the the HAAM group, there were few chondrocytes, toluidine blue staining was weakly positive, and immunohistochemistry staining was negative, indicating there was no cartilage matrix. In the blank control group, the defects were filled of fibroblasts and toluidine blue staining was weakly positive. To conclude, the BMSCs/HAAM is a good scaffold for BMSCs chondrogenic differentiation to effectively repair articular cartilage defects.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Xiao'er Zhixie Paste (XZP) by using the young rat model of chronic diarrhea,and to explore its mechanism.Methods Chronic diarrhea model in young rats was induced by ig senna.Rats were ig with Montmorillonite powder of 1.62 g/kg,XZP of low,medium,and high dose (2.03,4.05,and 8.10 g/kg) for treatment.Loose stools rate,loose stool grade and diarrhea index were determined 1 and 3 d after treatment respectively.The water content of small intestine was measured and blood was collected for testing serum succinate dehydrogenase (SDH),amylase,D-xylose by colorimetric determination,testing serum D-lactic acid,IL-1 β,and TNF-α by Elisa after administration.Results The rate of loose stools in XZP 4.05 and 8.10 g/kg dose group,and diarrhea index in 8.10 g/kg dose group significantly reduced after the first treatment.The loose stools rate of XZP 2.03,4.05,and 8.10 g/kg dose group,diarrhea index,serum D-lactic acid level in 4.05,8.10 g/kg group significantly reduced,and serum D-xylose level in 8.10 g/kg dose group significantly increased 3 d after treatment.However,XZP had no significant effect on SDH,amylase activity and IL-1β,TNF-α levels.Conclusion XZP has obvious therapeutic effect on chronic diarrhea in young rats,the mechanism is to increase improve the absorptive function and permeability of intestinal tract.

Objective To evaluate the use of double balloon endoscopy(DBE) in diagnosis of ulcerative lesions in small intestine.Methods Data of patients diagnosed as small intestinal ulcer under DBE during September 2003 and December 2007 at Nanfang Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results Ulcer in small intestine was detected by DBE in a total of 62 patients,including 48 males and 14 females,aging from 10 to 71 years old( mean 43.9 yr).The main clinical manifestations consisted of small intestinal hemorrhage(38/62,61.3%),abdominal pain(16/62,25.8%),abdominal distention(5/62,8.1%),loss of weight(2/62,3.2%),and diarrhea(1/62,1.6%).The ulcers were diagnosed endoscopically as Crohn's disease(CD) in 53 cases(85.5%),drug induced lesions in 4(6.5%),nonspecific chronic inflammation in 2(3.2%),lymphoma in 2(3.2%) and tuberculosis in 1(1.6%).They were all microscopically diagnosed as chronic inflammation.Of the 62 patients,32(51.6%) underwent surgery.In 30 cases of CD diagnosed by DBE,22 were confirmed by post-surgery pathology(malignant cells were found in 3),while in the other 8 cases,4 were diagnosed as lymphoma,3 as Behcet's disease and 1 as tuberculosis.Meanwhile,the 1 case of tuberculosis and 1 lymphoma diagnosed by DBE were confirmed as CD after operation.The overall accurate diagnosis rate of small intestinal ulcerative lesions by DBE was 68.8%(22/32).Conclusion DBE is valuable in diagnosis of ulcerative lesions in small intestine,but surgery should be included into consideration to confirm the diagnosis when necessary.

Background Qiang minority is minority groups of China with the special habits and customs and living condition. So whether the spectrum of disease and bacteria spectrum in conjunctiva are similar with Han nationality is worth paying attention. Objective Present survey was to obtain the data about bacterial species in conjunctival sac in Qiang minority population with the age 40 years old and more and the compare with matched Han nationality population. Methods This survey study was performed as the standardized training and protocol. A total of 212 eyes of 106 individuals from Qiang minority in Beichuan county and 640 eyes of 320 subjects from Han nationality in Mianyang city received questionnaire survey and ophthalmological examination. The secretion of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac was embrocated and inoculated on blood plate for 48-72 hours. The bacteria was separated and identified. This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Sichuan Provicial People' s Hospital. Orally informed consent was obtained before the medical procedure. Results All the examinee finished the survey and examination with a good compliance. No significant difference was found in the demography between these two groups of population. The multiple bacterial positive rate in conjunctival sac was 59. 4% in Qiang minority and that of Han people was 66. 3% with a considerably difference between them (χ2 = 2. 27,P = 0. 13). The multiple bacterial species were simultaneously detected in 26.2% in Qiang minority population and 11.88% Han people, showing evidently difference (χ2 = 106. 40, P = 0. 00 ) . The positive rate of corynbaccterium in conjunctival sac of Qiang minority was statistically lower than that of Han people (20. 7% versus 45. 0% ,χ2 =31. 75 ,P = 0. 00) ,but there was no statistical difference in the positive rate of staphylococcus epidemics between two groups (χ2 = 1. 89 ,P = 0. 17). Conclusion The bacteria positive rate in conjunctiva sac is resemble in the population over 40 years in both the Qiang minority and Han nationality. The simple bacterial species is found in majority people in two groups of subjects. The positive rate of multiple bacterial strains coexistence is more in the Qiang minority. The bacterial strains is different between Qiang minority and Han nationality.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of capillary leak syndrome (CLS) in children with sepsis, and to analyze its risk factors.

METHODSClinical data of 384 children with sepsis was studied retrospectively. They included 304 cases of general sepsis, 54 cases of severe sepsis and 26 cases of septic shock, and were divided into non-CLS (n=356) and CLS groups (n=28). Univariate analysis was performed for each of the following variables: sex, age, malnutrition, anemia, coagulation disorders, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, blood glucose, lactic acid, Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) III score, pediatric critical illness score (PICS), severe sepsis and number of failed organs≥3. The statistically significant variables (as independent variables) were subjected to multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of CLS in children with septic shock, severe sepsis and general sepsis were 42.3%, 20.1% and 1.3%, respectively, with significant differences among them (P<0.01). There were significant differences in anemia, coagulation disorders, CRP, PCT>2 ng/mL, TNF, IL-1, IL-6, blood glucose, lactic acid, PRISM III score, PICS and number of failed organs≥3 between the non-CLS and CLS groups (P<0.05). Severe sepsis/shock and PRISM III score were the independent risk factors for CLS in children with sepsis.

CONCLUSIONSThe severity of sepsis and PRISM III score are positively correlated with the incidence of CLS in children with sepsis. Early monitoring of such factors as infection markers and blood glucose in children with severe sepsis and high PRISM III score may contribute to early diagnosis and effective intervention, thus reducing the mortality from CLS in children with sepsis.

Adolescent ; Capillary Leak Syndrome ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; complications

The variability of peak current of L-type calcium channel (I(Ca,L)) shows an increase in cardiomyocytes after 6 h of preservation when the acutely isolated cardiomyocytes are preserved in a small volume buffer solution. The mechanism of the increased variability of I(Ca,L) is not clear. In order to obtain more accurately and stably experimental data of I(Ca,L), the aim of this study was to observe the pH changes of preservation buffer solution with acutely isolated rat cardiomyocytes, and the effects of pH changes on the shape of cardiomyocytes, the function of mitochondria and the gating property of L-type calcium channel. The results indicated that the pH was kept stable in 100 mL buffer solution, but was decreased from 7.20 to 6.95 in 20 mL buffer solution during 10 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. Therefore, 100 mL or 20 mL preservation solution was used as a normal control or acidotic group, respectively. The ratio of abnormal to normal rod-shaped cardiomyocytes increased in the acidotic group after 6 h of preservation. The acidosis induced a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential indicated by JC-1 fluorescent probe after 8 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. The acidosis also shifted the autofluorescence of NADPH from blue to green after 8 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. The above changes in mitochondrial function induced a significant decrease in the peak I(Ca,L) and a shift in the clamped voltage at peak I(Ca,L) from +10 mV to 0 mV, after 10 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. These results suggest that the best way to preserve acutely isolated cardiomyocytes is to use a larger volume buffer system. In order to get stable peak I(Ca,L), we need to not only select a normal shape of cardiomyocyte at a bright field but also a blue fluorescent myocyte at an ultraviolet excitation.
Animals ; Buffers ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology ; Preservation, Biological ; Rats

Recent studies reported that thymoquinone (TQ), a component derived from the medicinal spice Nigella sativa (also called black cumin), exhibited inhibitory effects on cell proliferation of many cancer cell lines. This study was performed to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of thymoquinone on the pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that thymoquinone suppressed the migration and invasion of Panc-1 cells in a does-dependent manner. To investigate the possible mechanisms involved in these events, Western blotting analysis was performed, and found that thymoquinone significantly down-regulates NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in Panc-1 cells. In addition, metastatic model simulating human pancreatic cancer was established by orthotropic implantation of histologically intact pancreatic tumor tissue into the pancreatic wall of nude mice. And administration of thymoquinone significantly reduced tumor metastasis compared to untreated control. Furthermore, the expression of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in tumor tissues was also suppressed after treatment with thymoquinone. Taken together, the results indicate that thymoquinone exerts anti-metastatic activity on pancreatic cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to down-regulation of NF-kappaB and its regulated molecules such as MMP-9 protein. Consequently, these results provide important insights into thymoquinone as an antimetastatic agent for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer.
Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzoquinones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Nigella sativa ; chemistry ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Abstract: Our previous work revealed berberine can significantly enhance the susceptibility of fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans, which suggested that berberine has synergistic antifungal activity with fluconazole. Preliminary SAR of berberine needs to be studied for the possibility of investigating its target and SAR, improving its drug-likeness, and exploring new scaffold. In this work, 13-substitutited benzyl berberine derivatives and N-benzyl isoquinoline analogues were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and MS. Their synergetic activity with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans was evaluated in vitro. The 13-substitutited benzyl berberine derivatives 1a-1e exhibited comparable activity to berberine, which suggested that the introduction of functional groups to C-13 can maintain its activity. The N-benzyl isoquinolines, which were designed as analogues of berberine with its D ring opened, exhibited lower activity than berberine. However, compound 2b, 2c, and 4b showed moderate activity, which indicated that berberine may be deconstructed to new scaffold with synergistic antifungal activity with fluconazole. The results of our research may be helpful to the SAR studies on its other biological activities.
Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Drug Synergism ; Fluconazole ; pharmacology ; Isoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

OBJECTIVETo examine the hypothesis that periodontitis was one of the sources of inflammation in preterm low birth weight (PLBW) mothers and investigate the relationship between PLBW and inflammatory factors.

METHODSThe samples of saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were collected from 83 PLBW mothers (PLBW group) and 44 normal birth weight (NBW) mothers (NBW group). The levels of IL-1beta and IL-6 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of cytokines in saliva and GCF were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSIL-1beta level in saliva of PLBW group was higher than which of NBW group significantly [(78.32+/-11.81) ng/L vs. (39.66+/-11.89) ng/L, P<0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference on IL-6 level in saliva [(17.45+/-3.13) ng/L vs. (16.28+/-0.66) ng/L], IL-1beta level in GCF [(93.58+/-13.22) ng/L vs. (81.38+/-9.28) ng/L] and IL-6 level in GCF [(15.35+/-0.28) ng/L vs. (14.87+/-0.37) ng/L) between two groups, but those of PLBW group were higher than NBW group. Significant negative correlations existed between gestational age at delivery and probing depth. It was also found significant negative correlations between gestational age at delivery and IL-6 (r=-0.274, P<0.01), between the weight of the new born infants and IL-6 levels in saliva (r=-0.424, P<0.01), IL-1beta level in GCF (r=-0.231, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere was a tendency presenting the higher inflammatory cytokine in GCF and saliva, the shorter gestation period and the lower birth weight. The levels of cytokine in saliva and GCF were higher in PLBW mothers. The correlation may be exist between maternal periodontitis and PLBW.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Periodontal Attachment Loss ; metabolism ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; metabolism ; Premature Birth ; Saliva ; chemistry ; Young Adult