Objective To investigate the effects of azithromycin on hyperoxia induced lung injury in neonatal rats.Methods Ninety 2-day-old neonatal rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (30 cases in each group):air control group,hyperoxia model group,azithromycin treated group.The rats in air control group were exposed to indoor air,and the rats in hyperoxia model group and azithromycin group were exposed to 900 mL?L-1 O2 for 14 days.From 2-days-after birth,rats in treated group received intraperitoneal injection of azithromycin (200 mg?kg-1)per day,rats in air control group and hyperoxia model group received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline.Ten rats in each group were executed and their lung tissues were taken out and were observed under a optical microscope on the 3rd,7th,14th days from the start.The expression of interferon gamma(IFN-?),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the lung tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results There was no expression of IFN-? positive cells in air control group,but the expressional intensity level was gradually enhanced as the time of inhaling hyperoxia prolonged in hyperoxia model group,it reached the peak on the 7th day,and then obviously declined on the 14th day,but still higher than that of air control group.The expressional intensity level of IFN-? in azithromycin treated group was lower than that of hyperoxia model group in each time segment,there were significant differences among them(Pa

Objective To investigate whether the spores from mushroom antigen can cause the allergic pneumonia and manufacture allergic animal model in the C57BL/_6 mouse.Methods Aged 6 weeks old,weight 25-30 g C57BL/_6 mice were collected.In the mouse tail injection compound of spore antigen and the Freud′s adjuvant.Then pours into through the trachea the antigen once a week.The mice were divided into 4 groups.Group A was the normal mouse,Group B was given Freud′s adjuvant(the same method)to determine whether there was affect to the mouse.Group C and D were injected spore antigen 2 and 4 times.When the antigen sensitization finished 1 week later group C and D were completely divided 2 groups,among them one group was inhalation 1.5% spore antigen and induce the acute response.Six hours later the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was collected to observe cell change,and excise the lung tissue to manufacture the pathology specimen,another group had not been induced the acute response and collect the BALF and to exsise the lung tissue directly.Group B were inhalted saline later to collect the BALF and the lung tissue.In the mouse blood serun,enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to mensurate antigen specific IgG.Results In group C and D,antigen specific IgG significantly inhanced than that in group A and B(all P

Objective To analyze the MRI imaging feature and the clinical feature of pituicytoma. Methods The clinical data and imaging feature of 10 patients with pituicytoma who were proved histologically were retrospectively studied. Visual disturbances disorder and headache were the main complaints of all patients. One patient had sexual function decline. All patients were given the examination of MRI and showed saddle area were occupied. Results Most of pituicytoma was circular or oval morphologically. Pituicytoma located at suprasellar region in 4 patients, in the sellar in 2 patients and over the sellar region in 4 patients.In them, cystic change occured in 1 patient. In most of the cases, the tumor showed isointensity on T1WI, isointensity or slightly hyperintensity on T2WI. After injection of contrast medium, the tumor showed homogeneous enhancement in early stage. Pathological markers:S-100, and vimenlin indicated 100%positive;glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), synaptophysin (SYN) and epithelial membrane antigen(EMA) indicated 50% positive. Six patients′serum endocrine function test:the levels of serum total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) had different degrees of reduction in 4 patients, and these index were normal in 2 patients. Conclusions On MRI, pituicytoma has certain characteristics which might help clinical diagnosis combined with the clinical manifestation and endocrine function tests.

Objective To study the effect of exogenous prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1) on the superoxide dismutase(SOD) and nitric oxide(NO) levels in brain tissue of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD).Methods Sixty 7-day old newborn Wistar rats to establish HIBD models,intraperitoneally and subcutaneous injected PGE 1 and TMP,then the rats were killed after hypo- xia and ischemia for 48 hours.Take cerebral cortex of arteria carotis ligation side and made them into homogenate to detect SOD and NO levels in brain tissue.Results SOD level in HIBD group was lower,and NO level was higher than those of normal group(P

Objective To establish the radiolabeling method for peptide K237 with 131I and investigate the biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy of 131I-K237 on nude mice bearing human lung cancer.Methods Iodogen method was used for labeling K237. The bioactivity of 131I-K237 was tested by human umbilical vein endothelial cell ( HUVEC ) proliferation inhibitory assay and the affinity of 131I-K237 was examined by competition binding studies. Twenty-five mice were divided into five groups randomly, including physiologic saline (group 1), K237 (40 μg) (group 2), 131I ( 11. 1 MBq) (group 3), 131I-K237 (K237 40 μg, 11. 1 MBq) intravenously ( group 4), and 131I-K237 ( K237 40 μg, 11.1 MBq) intratumorally (group 5). Injections were repeated at 15 d after the first injection. The tumor growth inhibition rate was calculated. Student's t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for testing significant differences of data. Results The inhibition rate of HUVEC proliferation had no significant difference between radiolabeled K237 and unlabeled K237 ( (73.69 ± 5.36) % vs ( 62.68 ± 3.83 ) %, t = 1.67, P ＞ 0.05 ). The growth of transplanted lung cancer was inhibited by 75. 01 % in group 4, 78.99% in group 5, 31.15% in group 2 and 12.61% in group 3, respectively. The average tumor volume of groups 4 and 5 were significantly smaller than that of groups 1,2, and 3 ( F = 15. 233 and 13.611, respectively, P ＜0. 01 ). Conclusion 131I-K237 can be readily radiolabeled and it can effectively inhibit the growth of tumor in nude mice bearing human lung cancer.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain ; drug effects ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVEThe development of neonatology and the availability of pulmonary surfactant have been helpful in effective reduction of the mortality of very low birth weight infants at the expense of an increasing number of survivors with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) caused by lung immaturity. BPD is a common syndrome in newborns, especially in preterm infants, when treated with hyperoxia and mechanical ventilation. Unfortunately, there have been no effective measure for the prevention and treatment of BPD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rh-IGF-1) on cell apoptosis and Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) expression during the lung injury induced by hyperoxia, so as to assess its effect on the inflammatory lung injury and its developmental repair.

METHODSEighty full term neonatal Wistar rats under the same condition were divided randomly into four groups on the second day after birth. Group I was air control, group II was exposed to hyperoxia, group III air + rh-IGF-1, and group IV was treated with hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1. The pups in the control group were kept in room air, while pups in hyperoxia group were kept in a Plexiglas chamber and exposed to over 85% oxygen. Pups in group III were under the same raising condition except for exposure to room air and treated with intraperitoneal injection of rh-IGF-1 (1 microg/Kg) everyday from the third day. Pups in group IV were treated with intraperitoneal injection of rh-IGF-1 (1 microg/Kg) everyday from the third day of exposure to hyperoxia. Lung tissue sections of the neonatal rats were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) after 7 d of hyperoxia exposure, expression of CCSP was examined by immunohistochemical method, and apoptotic cell index of lung tissue was calculated by using TUNEL method.

RESULTSIt was observed from immunohistochemical examination that positive staining of CCSP was distributed mainly in distal and respiratory bronchioles. The percentage of Clara cells in distal and respiratory bronchioles epithelium decreased in hyperoxia group (32.17 +/- 3.19)% compared to that in air control group (68.32 +/- 2.04)%, P < 0.01. Statistically significant differences were found in intensity of positiveness of Clara cells between hyperoxia (29.45 +/- 5.56) and air control group (42.37 +/- 3.24), P < 0.01. TUNEL assay showed that most apoptotic cells were alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells. The apoptotic index increased significantly in the hyperoxia group (55.77 +/- 6.09)% compared to the air control group (16.41 +/- 4.01)%, (P < 0.01). The positive rate (52.98 +/- 2.68)% of Clara cells and the expression (41.22 +/- 6.36) of CCSP in hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1 group increased significantly when compared with hyperoxia group, and the differences between these two group were also statistically significant (P < 0.01). The apoptotic index increased significantly in the hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1 group (27.98 +/- 3.09)% compared to the hyperoxia group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia exposure can promote the pneumocyte apoptosis and inhibit the expression of CCSP. Rh-IGF-1 can remove the block of the formation of lung alveoli, increase the secretion of CCSP, mitigate inflammatory responses in airway and alleviate lung injury via pneumocyte apoptosis. Therefore, the results of this study provide a theoretic and experimental evidence for clinical application of rh-IGF-1 in prevention and treatment of BPD.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Hyperoxia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Uteroglobin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe role of air pollution on asthma can not be ignored, diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in the air is one of the most important pollutants. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of DEP inhaled on immediate reaction in the asthma rats.

METHODSixty male Wistar rats of "Clean" grade, 6 - 7 week-old, with an average weight of (140 +/- 20) g were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, 10 in each. Group A was treated with normal saline attack as a negative control, Group B with ovalbumin attack as a positive control. After ovalbumin attack, groups C, D, E, F continued to inhale DEP for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively. The concentration of DEP was 200 microg/ml, the animals were subjected to inhalation of ultrasound nebulized DEP for 30 min per day. One week after all the attacks were concluded, Group A was stimulated with normal saline for 30 min, other groups were stimulated with ovalbumin. Then the airway resistance was determined with multi-channel signal acquisition and processing system and compared. The changes in neutrophils, eosinophils, and other inflammatory cells of BALF and the pathological changes in lung tissue, including epithelial cells loss, the inflammatory cells infiltration around the airway, basement membrane fibrosis, goblet cell hyperplasia etc. were observed. The concentration of IL-5 and gamma-interferon in the lung tissues, and the changes of serum IgE etc. were determined.

RESULTAirway resistance values of group A, B, C, D, E, F after ovalbumin excitation for 30 min were (3.56 +/- 0.21), (7.06 +/- 0.63), (6.46 +/- 0.38), (7.47 +/- 0.33), (8.87 +/- 0.61), (11.00 +/- 0.69) cm H2O/(ml.s). No airway hyperresponsiveness occurred in group A, while Groups B, C, D, E, F had higher airway resistance than group A, group E and F had higher airway resistance than that of group B, the differences were statistically significant. And the airway resistance was different in each group among 0 min, 10 min, 20 min and 30 min (F = 160.646, 148.901, 162.204, 156.186, P < 0.01 for both). The time of DEP inhalation and the airway resistance was positively correlated (r = 0.948, P < 0.01); IgE concentrations of the serum between groups B, C, D, E, F was not significantly different (P > 0.05), but higher than that of group A (F = 2.639, P < 0.01). The infiltrated inflammatory cells included eosinophils and lymphocytes, etc. The percentages of neutrophil(%) were (4.3 +/- 2.0), (9.7 +/- 5.2), (10.3 +/- 5.6), (13.0 +/- 5.2), (42.6 +/- 18.3), (55.3 +/- 6.9). The groups E and F had higher percentage than Group A and Group B (F = 114.226, P < 0.01). The percentages of eosinophils(%) were 0, (11.9 +/- 3.8), (15.8 +/- 6.3), (13.0 +/- 4.9), (21.1 +/- 5.6), (27.1 +/- 4.8). The difference between Groups B, C, D, E, F and Group A was statistically significant. There was significant difference between groups C, D, E, F and group B (F = 46.462, P < 0.05); Lung tissue biopsy in group A showed that the epithelial cells were intact, no inflammatory cells infiltrations were found around the airways, instead, mainly ciliated columnar epithelial cells and only a small number of goblet cells were seen without basement membrane fibrosis. With the inhalation of DEP, the epithelial cells showed gradual necrosis, disruption and loss, goblet cells showed hyperplasia, and infiltrations with inflammatory cells were seen around the airway. In the lung tissue, concentrations of IL-5 in group B, C, and E were (12.8 +/- 2.8), (17.1 +/- 5.2), (18.6 +/- 4.2) pg/mg, the difference between groups C, E and group B was statistically significant (F = 4.236, P < 0.01), the difference in gamma-interferon concentration among all groups was not statistically significance (F = 1.185, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDEP inhalation increased the airway responsiveness of asthma rats in immediate reaction, promoted the lung epithelial cell loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, basement membrane fibrosis and goblet cell hyperplasia.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; etiology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vehicle Emissions

Objective To investigate the effect of oil with medium-long-chain triacylglycerols on blood lip- id and lipoproteins in hyperlipemic patients. Methods Totally, 112 patients with hypertriglyceridemia were en- rolled and randomly divided into MLCT group (consumed oil with medium-long-chain fatty acids) and LCT group (consumed oil with long-chain fatty acids) (both 25-30 g/d for 8 weeks). Patients in both two groups were also instructed to take exercises. Height and weight were measured at baseline and 8 weeks later. Blood glucose, serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterols (TC), triglyc- erides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein Al (ApoAl), ApoB, ApoA II , ApoC2, ApoC3, and ApoE were measured and compared. Results At the end of study, 101 subjects were included. There were 50 subjects left in LCT group and 51 subjects left in MLCT group, respectively. There was no significant difference in weight, ALT, AST, TC, and TG at baseline between two groups (P>0.05). Eight weeks later, weight, serum TG, ApoC2, and ApoC3 were significantly lower and ApoAl level was significantly higher than those at baseline in MLCT group (P < 0.05). At the end of study, the decreases in body weight and blood biochemical variables including TG, ApoB, ApoA II , ApoC2, ApoC3 were significantly much greater in MLCT groups than those in LCT group (P < 0. 05). Conclusion When the diet is reasonably controlled, oil of medium-long-chain triacylglycerols may reduce the concentration of TG and improve the levels of apolipoproteins.

Biopsy ; Histological Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Paraffin Embedding ; Ultrasonics