Objective To explore the influence of salmeterol fluticasone plus tiotropium bromide on right cardiac and thyroid functions of patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) with chronic cor pulmonale .Methods A total of 92 cases of COPD patients with chronic cor pulmonale at our hospital from July to December 2012 were recruited as subjects and divided randomly into 2 groups of treatment ( n=47) and control (n=45).The control group received diuretics and vasodilative drugs while the treatment group had additional therapies of salmeterol fluticasone ( 50/500 μg ) twice daily plus tiotropium bromide once per day once daily for 6 months.Measure and compare two groups of patients′FEV1%, forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1), status of vigor, brain natriuretic peptide(BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF ) , ultrasonic cardiogram ( right ventricular outflow tract , right ventricular internal diameter, right pulmonary artery trunk ) and value of thyroid function before and after treatment .Results Before treatment, the treatment group′s FEV1 (%) (36 ±10)%, FEV1 (1 036 ±410) ml, BNP (357 ± 101) ng/L, LVEF (46.2 ±10.4)%, internal diameter of right ventricular outflow tract (36.0 ±5.4) mm, right ventricular internal diameter (38.1 ±6.7) mm, right pulmonary artery trunk (24.0 ±3.6) mm, TT3 (1.47 ±0.38) nmol/L, TT4 (114.56 ±21.39) nmol/L, FT3 (4.47 ±1.42) pmol/L, FT4 (15.6 ± 2.5) pmol/L and TSH (2.50 ±0.91) mU/L showed no marked difference from those of control group (P>0.05).After treatment, the treatment group′s FEV1(%)(58 ±1)%, FEV1(1 706 ±456)ml, BNP(225 ± 52) ng/L, LVEF (57.1 ±11.5)%, internal diameter of right ventricular outflow tract (30.1 ±4.2) mm, right ventricular internal diameter ( 32.0 ±3.9 ) mm and right pulmonary artery trunk ( 20.2 ±2.3 ) mm greatly improved ( P <0.01 ) while its TT3 ( 1.46 ±0.42 ) nmol/L, TT4 ( 113 ±22 ) nmol/L, FT3 (4.46 ±1.38) pmol/L, FT4 (15.4 ±2.5) pmol/L and TSH (2.51 ±0.82) mU/L showed no marked difference from those of control group ( P>0.05 ) .However , no obvious difference existed in the control group′s BNP, LVEF, internal diameter of right ventricular outflow tract , right ventricular internal diameter , right pulmonary artery trunk and value of thyroid function before and after treatment ( P >0.05 ) . Conclusion Salmeterol fluticasone plus tiotropium bromide can effectively improve right cardiac functions of patients of COPD with chronic cor pulmonale , without marked suppression of thyroid function .

Objective To investigate the inttuenee of elevated fasting blood glucose(FBG)on left ventrieular ejection fraction(LVEF)after acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods The relationship between FBG(≥8-hour fast within 24 hours of admission)and LVEF in 161 patients with AMI was studied prospectively.Patients were grouped by FBG (group 1,FBG＜6.1 mmol/L,group 2,FBG 6.1-6.9mmol/L,group 3.FBG≥7.0mmol/L).LVEF was measured at admission and at 30 days after AMI onset Results Compared with that of normal FBG(group 1),LYEF of elevated FBG(group 2 and group 3)was lower[for admission:(49.3±6.7)%,(45.8±7.4)% vs (52.4±7.7)%,P＜0.05;for 30day8:(52.7±7.3)%,(49.2±7.2)% vs (55.8±7.4)%.P＜0.05].ConclusionElevated FBG is associated with worse LVEF after AMI.

Objective To investigate the effect of tigecycline on serum procalcitonin and its efficacy in the treatment of elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and nosocomial infection. Methods 82 elderly patients with COPD with nosocomial infection were selected and randomly divided into two groups with 41 cases of each group, the control group received routine treatment combined with cefoperazone and sulbactam, and the experimental group received routine treatment combined with tigecycline, 2 weeks for a course of treatment. The serum inflammatory factors and laboratory related indexes, clinical efficacy and bacterial clearance were compared after the treatment. Results Compared with control group, the levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interluekin 6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α) were significantly lower, and the serum levels of PCT and NO were lower(P < 0.05). The total efficacy of experimental group was 90.24%, which was higher than 70.73% in control group (P<0.05). The bacterial clearance rate in the control group was 63.42%, which was lower than the experimental group of 87.80% (P < 0.05). Conclusion Tigecycline in the treatment of COPD and nosocomial infection in elderly patients is curative effective and it can reduce the serum levels of PCT, NO and inflammatory factors with high safety.

Objective To investigate the kinetic changes of inflammatory cell infiltration and thyroid autoantibodies in the development of iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H-2~(h4)mice.Methods Either 128 five-week-old NOD.H-2~(h4)mice or 128 Kunming mice were randomly divided into two groups,and received plain water or water containing 0.05% sodium iodide.At the time points of 1,2,4,8,12,16,and 24 week after receiving iodinated water,mice were anesthetized by diethyl ether and bled from eye socket vein,and their thyroid glands were collected.Indirect ELISA method was used to measure the levels of serum thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb)and thyroid hormone.After being fixed with paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin,thyroid sections were stained with HE and used for morphometrieal analysis.Results In the iodine treated group of NOD.H-2~(h4) mice,autoimmune thyroiditis was observed as early as 1 week after they began receiving indinated water.The prevalence as well as the degree of autoimmune thyroiditis reached the maximum at 12 weeks and remained until 24 weeks.Serum TgAb level increased after 8 weeks of iodine ingestion in NOD.H-2~(h4) mice,then increased steadily throughout the 24 weeks of experiment.On the contrary,serum TgAb was not increased in the control group of Kunming mice.Conclusion Iodine may induce and exacerbate lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid in genetically susceptible NOD.H-2~(h4) mice,and serum TgAb is just a marker of autoimmune thyroiditis.

Background C57BL/6(B6) is a kind of routine mouse specie used in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) research.Previous studies showed that the pathogenesis of uveitis related to inflammatory cytokines secreted by different helper T(Th) cells.However,the interaction of different Th cells in EAU is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the dynamic changes of inflammatory factors in the spleen and serum after immunization in EAU mice.Methods Forty-four SPF B6 mice were immunized by injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) and complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) emulsion via caudal vein and footpad.Indirect ophthalmoscope was used to examine the eyes 3 times per week and the inflammatory response was scored based on Thurau's criteria.In the thirty day after injection,20 model eyes were extracted and the sections of eye tissue were prepared for histopathological examination.The spleens of model mice were enucleated before injection and 2,5,10,15,20,25,30 days after injection,and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the contents of interleukin-17 (IL-17) mRNA,interferon-γ (IFN-γ) mRNA,tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA and IL-10 mRNA,and the contents of IL-17,IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-10 in model serum were assayed by ELISA in 24 model mice.The experimental protocol and use of the animals were approved by Ethic Committee for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Results Mild inflammatory response was seen in 12 days under the indirect ophthalmoscope with the scores of 0.5.The inflammatory scores peaked in 13-15 days with the scores of 1.0 and alleviated after that with the inflammatory scores of 0.5 in 30 days after injection.The histopathological score was consistent with the clinical score in the models on the 30 days.The serum IL-17 content of model mice was (0.98±0.05) ng/L before injection and increased to (51.85 ±2.42) ng/L on the fifth day,and decreased to (4.01±0.06)ng/L on the fifteen day.But,the serum IL-17 level increased to (25.00±0.94)ng/L again on the 25th day,and then lowed to (6.01 ±0.21)ng/L 30 days after injection,showing a significant elevation in comparison with that of before injection (P=0.000).The serum IFN-γ content of the model mice was (1.02±0.09)ng/L before injection and increased to (50.54±0.48) ng/L on the fifth day,and (73.21±0.12) ng/L on the tenth day,and then it declined gradually until (5.15±0.18)ng/L in the 30th day,which was still higher than that of before injection (P=0.000).After injection of IRBP+CFA,the serum TNF-α level upregulated from the second day to fifth day with the peak values (134.25±0.59)ng/L,and declined to valley on 15th day.A repeat elevation of serum TNF-α level was found on the 20th day with the values (60.54±0.62)ng/L and followed by decrease till the 30th day,which was higher than that of before injection (P=0.660).Serum IL-10 was detectable in the tenth day and peaked on the 15th day.Then a slight decrease was seen till the 30th day,compared with before injection(P =0.000).The contents of IL-10 mRNA,IL-17 mRNA,TNF-α mRNA,IFN-γmRNA in mice spleens followed the same pattern with serum levels of their proteins.Conclusions IL-17,IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-10 are key inflammatory factors of Th1,Th2 and Th17,they present with specific changes during EAU,it confirming that IFN-γ probably play a pathogenic role in EAU,IL-17 and TNF-α levels probably associated with the chronic and recurrent procedure of uveitis,IL-10 plays an inhibit role in EAU.

Data were collected through questionnaire from 505 women enrolled during early pregnancy.Based on soy intake frequency,the subjects were divided into three groups:frequent (three or more times per week),conventional ( more than twice per month but less than three times per week),and occasional ( two or fewer times per month).Serum TSH and FT4 were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay.The urinary concentrations of two primary isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) and creatinine were further assessed in 95 subjects from the three groups.The percentages of frequent,conventional,and occasional consumers were 18.6％,62.6％,and 18.8％,respectively.No difference was found in age,medical records,family history of thyroid diseases,serum FT4,TSH,and prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions among three groups. Both urinary daidzein and genistein levels were significantly higher in the frequent consumers compared with the other two groups.No correlations were found between urinary isoflavone levels and serum FT4 or TSH.These findings suggest that dietary soy consumption during early pregnancy seems not to be associated with the development of thyroid dysfunction.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qianjin Fubao (QJFB) on behavior and estradiol level in femal chronic stress model rats.

METHODTwenty four female Wistar rats (2 month old) were evenly randomized into normal control, animal model and QJFB (0.7 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) group. The QIFB group and the stress group were exposed to a chronic unpredictable stress for 21 days. Rats of the QJFB group received perfusion of Qianjin Fubao, and rats of stress and control group were perfused with normal saline. The behavior of three groups were determined with the method of Open-field before and after right stress respectively. Serum level of estradiol was detected with radioim munoassay.

RESULTThe behavioral score and the serum level of estradiol of the stressed group were significantly lower than those of the control group after stress (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of behavioral score and the serum level of estradiol between QJFB group and control group.

CONCLUSIONThe chronic unpredictable stress can induce the stressful change of behavior, and QJFB may recover the rats'abnormal behavior and improve the serum level of estradiol. QJFB may have protective effect on stress.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Psychological ; blood ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical outcomes of the posterior C1,2 screw-rod combined with C2 unilateral translaminar screw and contralateral pedicle screw fixation and autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to December 2012, the clinical data of 12 patients with upper cervical instability underwent C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion were analyzed retrospectively. There were 8 males and 4 females with a mean age of 47.5 years (ranged, 16 to 77 years). Patients suffered from occipitocervical activity limitation of motion with pain or not, VAS was 0-7 points with an average of (3.50 +/- 2.71) points. Unilateral vertebral artery hypoplasia was demonstrated by vertebral arteriography (VAG) or CTA in all patients. Cervical X-ray and CT scans were done within 7 days after surgery in order to confirm internal fixation position. Internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing, bone fusion ratio were observed during follow-up.

RESULTSNo nerves and vertebral artery injuries occurred during operation. Cervical pain obviously decreased and VAS was (0.92 +/- 0.90) points. Cervical alignment of 12 patients had well-recovered by X-ray while Atlantoaxial ventral lamina cortex of 1 case was encroached by CT scan without neurological symptom. All patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years, no internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing were found. All patients obtained bone fusion in 6-12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONPosterior C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion can achieve biomechanical stability and raise the successful rate of bone fusion, while avoiding the risk of vertebral artery injury and overcoming the insufficient of bone fusion during bilateral laminar screws placement as well. Posterior C1 lateral mass screws fixation is a safe and effective additional method in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebral Artery ; pathology

Aim To investigate estradiol inhibition of neointimal proliferation after rat carotid artery balloon injury. Methods Eight to ten-week-old SD rats (male,n=21,female,n=21) were divided into intact control(n=7),gonadectomy control(n=7) and estradiol (n=7, gonadectomy)groups in each sex. Left carotid artery was not injured with 2.0 F PTCA balloon until estradiol was injected for three days. Rats were killed 2 wk after injury. Neointimal areas and media area, ratios of intimal areas/media areas were measured with computer. Results Male neointimal areas and ratios of intimal areas /media areas in estradiol group were less than those in intact control group significantly(all P<0.01) and than those in gonadectomy control group (all P<0.05). Those in female,in estrdiol group were less than those in gonadectomy control group evidently (all P<0.01),and similar to those in intact control group (all P>0.05). Conclusions Estrdiol inhibits neointimal proliferation after the gonadectomy in rats undergoing carotid artery balloon injury.

Objective To study the effect of intedeukin 6 (IL-6) on the expression of androgen receptor (AR) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells(GC) and to explore its role of in the polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) pathogenesis.Methods Different concentrations of IL-6 (10,100 and 1 000 ng/L) were treated with GC.Expression of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA and protein in GC were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot.Results The mRNA and protein expressions of AR in GC were upregulated in groups with 100 and 1 000 ng/L IL-6 at 72 h.Conclusion IL-6 can improve androgen activity.This process may explain the function of chronic subclinical inflammation in PCOS pathogenesis.