Objective To establish the method of multiple loci VNTR(variable numbers tandem-repeats) analysis (MLVA) for genotyping Leptospira interrogans serogroup ieterohaemorrhagiae . Methods Seven VNTR loci were chosen for genotyping 117 strains of L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae by PCR-electrophoresis-based VNTR analysis and the results were analyzed by software BioNumerics( Version 4.0). Results One hundred and seventeen isolates of L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae detec-ted with 7 VNTR loci were classified into three clusters(A,B,C), twenty-eight types were found, type A 11.97% (14/117), type B 0.85% (1/1 17), type C 87.18% (102/117). Diversity Indexes for the loci varied between 0.0831 and 0.8005. Clinical strains isolated from the same geographic area and belonging to the same serogroup shared a common VNTR pattern. Conclusion MLVA could be used to classify and identify Leptospira interrogans preliminarily. With the improvement of technology, this rapid and easy method should greatly contribute to a better knowledge of the epidemiology of Leptospira.

Portal hypertension is a common physiopathological change in liver cirrhosis. In this study, rabbits were used and the model of pre-hepatic portal hypertension (PHT) was induced by partial ligation of portal vein in two steps. We measured the diameters of portal vein and small mesenteric vein at different time-points. Then we detected the stress forces induced by blood flow in varicose veins and in portal vein; such forces included hydrostatic pressure, shear stress and circumferential stress. With the increase of the diameter of varicose small mesenteric vein, the hydrostatic pressure and circumferential stress gradually elevated and shear stress descended markedly in both the portal vein and the small mesenteric vein of PHT rabbits, between which there was a positive linear correlation. The findings in our study indicate that the complications of PHT are partially attributable to the environment of lower shear stress and higher circumferential stress in which the blood vessels of portal venous system live.
Animals ; Hemodynamics ; Hypertension, Portal ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Mesenteric Veins ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Stress, Mechanical ; Vascular Resistance ; physiology ; Venous Pressure

BACKGROUNDGensing Rg3 is an active component from ginseng. The aim of this study is to observe the clinical anticancer effect of Rg3 in combination with chemotherapy regimen NP (vinorelbine+cisplatin) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSStage III-IV NSCLC patients confirmed by pathology or cytology all received vinorelbine plus cisplatin for at least two cycles, and were randomized into two groups: patients in arm A also received placebo twice a day, while patients in arm B received two tablets of Rg3 twice a day for at least two months. The endpoints of the study were the efficacy, survival and tolerance of patients.

RESULTSFrom July 2000 to May 2002, 115 patients were enrolled into the trial. The patients' characteristics were well balanced in the two groups. Sex of patients: male, 79; female 36. Types of pathology: adenocarcinoma, 71; squamous cell carcinoma, 29; adenosquamous carcinoma, 8; others, 7. TNM stage: stage III, 45; stage IV, 70. Prior chemotherapy: with, 17; without, 98. Prior radiotherapy: with, 15; without, 100. Prior surgical treatment: with, 23; without, 92. Nine patients discontinued from the trial due to severe adverse effects (5) and other reasons (4), so there were 106 patients evaluable for clinical efficacy. The response rate was 14.5% (8/55) in arm A, and 33.3% (17/51) in arm B (P=0.011). The survival time in arm A was 9.7 months (mean) and 8.0 months (median), and 15.3 months (mean) and 10.0 months (median) in arm B (P=0.0088).

CONCLUSIONSPreliminary results show improvements in response rate and survival time (median and mean) in Rg3 arm compared with placebo arm. It is worthy to confirm the results in further clinical trials.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Honokiol on the airway inflammation induced by particulate matter 2.5(PM2.5)in the asthmatic mice and its mechanism.Methods Fifty male specific pathogen free (SPF)Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups.Group A:normal control group;group B:asthmatic model group;group C:PM2.5 exposure asthmatic group;group D:TAK -242 group;group E:Honokiol group. Asthmatic mouse models were established by ovalbumin(OVA)sensitization and challenge.On days 0 and 7,the mice in B-E groups were injected intraperitoneally with injection 100 mg/L OVA and aluminum hydroxide for sensitization;on days 14 to 21,10 g/L OVA solution was given 30 min per day to challenge.During challenge phrase,the mice in C -E groups received intratracheal injection of PM2.5,every other day,4 times totally.On this basis,the mice in group D re-ceived TAK-242 intraperitoneal injection,and the mice in group E received honokiol intragastric administration.Group A was given saline instead of OVA.Animals were sacrificed 24 h after the final inhalation challenge,and the bronchoal-veolar lavage fluid(BALF)of the left lung was used for differential inflammatory cell counts.The expressions of Toll-like receptors 4(TLR4)and nuclear factor(NF)-κB at mRNA level were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to measure the levels of Th17 and Treg cells.Results Compared with group A,mice in group B and group C expressed more serious disorders of bronchial epithelial cells,alveolar wall congestion and edema,increased mucus secretion in the airway and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung,and those in group C were more obvious than those of group B and group E significantly reduced respiratory inflammation;compared with group A[(4.15 ± 1.35)×108/L,0.012 0 ± 0.002 3],the total number of inflammatory cell counts[(16.79 ± 5.62)×108/L and(24.58 ± 13.46)×108/L],eosinophils proportions(0.113 8 ± 0.022 3 and 0.197 8 ± 0.084 9)in group B and group C,were significantly higher,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05);The total number of inflammatory cell counts and eosinophils proportion in group E(8.56 ± 3.28)×108/L and 0.041 5 ± 0.013 5)were significantly lower than those in group C,and the differences were statistically significant(all P <0.05);The expressions of TLR4 mRNA and NF-κB mRNA in group B and C(1.85 ± 0.56,1.82 ± 0.28 and 2.97 ± 0.41,2.83 ± 0.32)were significantly higher,and the differences were statistically significant(all P <0.05);The expressions of TLR4 mRNA and NF-κB mRNA in group E(1.60 ± 0.28,1.54 ± 0.25)was significantly lower than those in group C,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05);the expressions of Th17 in group B and C[(2.89 ± 0.61)% and(4.96 ± 0.27)%]were significantly higher than those of group A[(1.03 ± 0.35)%] (all P<0.05);The expression of Th17 in group E[(1.83 ± 0.23)%]was significantly lower than that of group C,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05);the expressions of Treg in group B and C[(4.96 ± 0.35)%and(2.27 ± 0.41)%]were significantly lower than those of group A[(7.37 ± 0.56)%],and the differences were sta-tistically significant(all P<0.05);The expression of Treg in group E was significantly increased[(6.45 ± 0.38)%] compared with that in group C,and the difference were statistically significant(P<0.05);and those of group D and E were improved remarkably.Conclusions Honokiol can relieve PM2.5 exposure of asthmatic airway inflammation through down-regulating the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB and Th17 and regulating the balance of Th17 and Treg cells.

Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of honokiol in a mouse model of particulate matter ( PM ) 2.5-induced asthma .Methods Female SPF BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups:normal saline group (group A), ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized group ( group B), PM2.5-exposed+OVA-sensitized group ( group C), dexamethasone-treated group (group D) and honokiol-treated group (group E).All mice except those in group A were sensitized and challenged with OVA, and the mice in groups C, D and E were exposed to PM2.5 every two days since the first challenge.Samples of lung sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) to observe in-flammatory infiltration.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and PBMCs were collected from each mouse . Expression of RORγt and Foxp3 at mRNA level was detected by quantitative real-time PCR.Flow cytometry analysis was performed to measure the percentages of Th 17 and Treg cells.ELISA was performed to measure the levels of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-17 in the supernatants of cell culture .Results Compared with group B , group C showed an enhanced expression of RORγt at mRNA level, increased IL-17 level and up-regulated percentage of Th17 cells (all P<0.05), but a suppressed expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level, decreased IL-10 level and down-regulated percentage of Th17 cells (all P<0.05).No significant difference in the per-centage of Th1 cells or in the expression of Th 1-related cytokines was observed .The expression of RORγt at mRNA level, IL-17 level and the percentage of Th 17 cells were decreased in PM2.5-exposed mice upon honokiol intervention (all P<0.05), while the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level, IL-10 level and the per-centage of Treg cells were increased after honokiol intervention (all P<0.05).Honokiol had similar efficacy to dexamethasone in the treatment of asthma .Conclusion Honokiol can alleviate airway inflammation in mice with PM2.5 exposure-induced asthma through regulating the percentages of Th 17 and Treg cells.