Objective Intranuclear forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3(Foxp3) plays a key role in T cell-mediated immunosuppression.The present study was performed to investigate the effects of high mobility group box-1 protein(HMGB1) on Foxp3 gene as well as protein expressions in splenic regulatory T cells(Tregs) and their potential regulating mechanisms in mice.Methods CD4+CD25+Tregs isolated from the spleens of male BABL/c mice by magnetic beads were seeded on 96-well(1?105 cells/well) cell culture plates coated with anti-CD3(1 ?g/ml) and soluble anti-CD28(1 ?g/ml),and the cells were stimulated with HMGB1 at various intervals or at different concentrations.After being stimulated,the Foxp3 mRNA/protein expressions in the Tregs were determined.The time-dependent and dose-dependent responses between HMGB1 and intranuclear Foxp3 expression were analyzed by flow cytometry,and the expressions of Foxp3 mRNA of Tregs were analyzed by quantitative PCR of SYBR GREEN.Results After stimulation with HMGB1,the intranuclear Foxp3 protein and mRNA expressions of splenic Tregs in mice were markedly down-regulated in 24 h to 72 h(P

Toinvestigate the implementation mode and effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in experimental teaching of physiology,PBL was applied in experimental teaching of circulatory physiology. Comparison of test scores and Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) were used to evaluate teaching quality and teaching environment respectively. The results showed that both test and DREEM scores were higher in PBL group than in control group (P

Studies have shown that women's menopause caused by permanent cessation of ovarian function is closely related to lipid metabolism disorders. Er-xian Decoction has been used in the clinical treatment for gynecological diseases and has a good effect on diseases related to reduced sex hormone function. In this study, metabolomics was performed on bilateral ovariectomized model rats within 12 weeks after modeling to mimic the physiological state of menopausal women in different menopausal stages and Er-xian Decoction dosed model rats. The results of liver oil red O staining sections showed lipid metabolic disorder of bilateral ovariectomized model rats and the regulating effects of Er-xian Decoction. 46 potential biomarkers (6 steroid hormones, 3 sphingolipids, 11 phospholipids and 26 glycerides) in plasma and 32 potential biomarkers (1 steroid hormones, 20 phospholipids and 11 glycerides) in liver were obtained based on lipidomics analysis. Then, we analyzed the differential metabolic pathways and construct the lipid metabolism network significantly regulated by Er-xian Decoction. The results provided valuable information for in-depth understanding of the gradual changes on lipid metabolism disorders under menopausal conditions and the characteristics and mechanisms of compound Er-xian Decoction's regulatory effects. The study complied with the procedures established by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and passed the animal experiment ethics examine (No. 00000918).

The on-line monitor for the changes in the content of baicalin in Scutellariae Radix formula particles during the extraction process was conducted by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used as a reference method. Kennard-Stone (KS) was used to divide sample sets, so as to compare different pretreatment methods. The synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLS) was used to screen out modeling wave band to establish partial least-squares models. The relative error method was applied to predict forecast set samples of Scutellariae Radix in three extraction phases. The results showed that the model established by Savitzky-Golay smoothing with 11 points (SG11 points) was the best, with the root mean square with cross validation (RMSECV), root mean square error of correction (RMSEC) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of baicalin of 0.092 7, 0.134 4 and 0.114 8, respectively, the determination coefficient R2 of greater than 0.99, and the relative error of baicalin content of less than 5%. This indicates that the on-line near infrared reflectance spectroscopy could be applied in on-line monitor and quality control of the extraction process of Scutellariae Radix formula particles.
Automation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms involved in the ligustrazine alleviation of the pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) during exacerbation.

METHODSSeventy patients of COPD and CCP with acute exacerbation were randomly and equally divided into control group and treatment group. The control group received standard treatment with antibiotics, antiasthmatic and expectorant medications, and oxygenation; and the ligustrazine treatment group received ligustrazine treatment (80 mg/d; i.v.; for 2 weeks) in addition to the standard treatment. Before and at the end of 2 week treatment, the clinic responses of the two regimens were evaluated, plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined; arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), outflow tract of right ventricle (RVOT), and internal diameter of right ventricle (RV) were measured.

RESULTSGood clinic benefits were achieved in both the standard and ligustrazine regimens, plasma level of ET-1, values of mPAP, RV and RVOT decreased significantly, plasma level of NO and PaO2 values decreased (all P < 0.01 vs pre-treatment to all parameters). Compared with the control group, ligustrazine greatly enhanced the clinic efficacy from 77.1% to 97.1% (P < 0.05), and also resulted in more significant changes of all these parameters (P < 0.01 vs control group for all parameters). For both groups, the levels of plasma ET-1 were positively correlated with values of mPAP, RVOT, and RV (r = 0.710, 0.853, and 0.766, respectively, all P = 0.000), and negatively correlated with plasma NO and PaO2 (r = - 0.823, and - 0.752, respectively, all P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONLigustrazine is effective in treating pulmonary artery hypertension during acute exacerbation of COPD and CCP in patients from the plateau area. The observed changes in the plasma levels of NO and ET-1 in response to ligustrazine treatment suggest that ligustrazine may act through the selective effect on pulmonary blood vessels to enhance the synthesis and release of NO and suppress those of ET-1 from lung vascular endothelial cells, thus reducing pulmonary artery pressure and decreasing pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Altitude ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Chronic Disease ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Respiration

Objective To establish the reference databases for bone mineral density(BMD)in multiple skeletal regions,which would be useful for diagnosis of osteoporosis(OP)and prediction of fracture risk in adult women in Qingdao.Methods BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at skeletal regions of lumbar spine,left hip(femoral neck,Ward's triangle and greater trochanter)in 868 healthy adult women aged 25- 83 years and 191 women with fractures.BMD of skeletal regions with age-related change was found to fit in 8 kinds of regression models.Best model equations of fitting were found and the reference database was established.BMD of women with fractures was compared with the reference databases to predict the risk of fracture.Results BMD in 6 skeletal regions changed with aging and a cubic regression model was better fitted with aged-related change as compared with other regression models.The coefficients of determination(R~2)of fitting curve were 0.21?0.09 (P＜0.01).The BMD reference databases of women in Qingdao were established by cubic regression equation, the peak BMD of lumbar spine and hip appeared at 25-29,and 40-44 years old groups respectively.Finally,the BMD in fracture group was significantly decreased by 1.6-2.5 s as compared with the peak BMD of health women. Conclusion The bone quantity is lost rapidly after 45 years old in women.If the BMD in women after 50 years old is decreased by 1.6-2.5 s compared with the peak BMD in the same area,the risk of fracture is increased.

Objective:To clone and express the Staphylococcus aureus Efb(extracellular fibrinogen-binding protein) protein in Escherichia coli, to purify the expression product and prepare its functional antibody and to detect the functions of Efb protein for further studies on S.aureus infection.Methods: Efb gene was amplified by PCR using S.aureus NCTC-8325 genome DNA as template and cloned into the recombinant expression vectors pET28a. E.coli BL21(DE3) with the plasmid was induced with IPTG for protein production. The protein was purified by Ni~(2+) affinity chromatography. The function of Efb protein was determined by complement activity assay and inhibition ELISA.The polyclonal antibodies were prepared by immunizing the animals. Results: The purified recombinant Efb was obtained, which could inhibit the CH50 and AH50 effectively. The functional poly-antibodies of Efb were prepared.Conclusion:Efb could inhibit the classical pathway and alternative pathway of complement activation, and the antibodies against to Efb could block the inhibition of the classical pathway of complement activation induced by Efb.

Objective To investigate the effects of quetiapine and risperidone in the treatment of behavior and psychiatric symptom of dementia(BPSD).Methods 56 cases of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia pa- tients were all met for the classification and diagnostic criteria for mental illness in China(CCMD-3)and randomly divided into two groups(27 in quetiapine group,29 in risperidone group),experimental dosage were 0.05～0.3g/d and 1～2mg/d,respectively.The treatment lasted for 8 weeks.Results The total efficiency of quetiapine was 66.67% and that of risperidone was 65.5%,and the statistical difference was significant.As for the adverse effects, there was no significant difference,but incidence of EPS in quetiapine group was less than that of risperidone group. Conclusion Quetiapine can be widely administrated in clinic application as the high efficacy of control BPSD with low minor adverse effect.

Objective To investigate the feasibility, effect and mechanism of chemical bile duct embolization for chemical hepatectomy. Methods Phenol or absolute ethanol plus cyanonacrylate were employed as embolization agents. Histology, Fas and TGF-? 1 measurement were used to evaluate the result. Results Phenol plus cyanonacrylate effectively destroyed and embolized intrahepatic biliary duct, leading to complete disappearance of hepatocytes in the periphery of embolization lobe and thereby achieving the effect of chemical hepatectomy. Expression of Fas and TGF-? 1 in phenol embolism group (88.90?38.10, 185.22?70.39) and ethanol embolism group (72.39?29.51, 163.56?51.75) were higher than those in biliary duct ligated group (26.31?12.07, 74.84?40.73) ( P

Objective To investigate the reaction kinetics between the stone-dissolving solution and the urinary stone in a model simulating the condition of a kidney for further clinical administration. Methods An artificial upper urinary tract was made by silica gel. Lactic acid prepared in the preliminary study was used to react with artificial stone in the model. The concentration of reaction product in the effluent was measured to identify the reaction velocity. Relationships between the efficiency and dissolution rate or stone surface was investigated. Results The highest utilization rate of dissolution was 100 ~ 150 mL/h. Dissolution efficiency is in positive rela-tion with stone surface. The efficiency correlates with the stone surface and infusion speed in the range of 50~400 mL/h. Conclusions Before dissolution treatment ,the stone should be shattered as deeply as possible to in-crease the surface of reaction. If possible ,the irrigating speed should be as high as possible to eliminate the stone sooner.