OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism by which Juanxiao decoction improves bronchial asthma （hereinafter referred to as “asthma”） based on the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome signaling pathway. METHODS Female SD rats were randomly assigned to normal group， model group and Juanxiao decoction low-， medium- and high-dose groups （0.36， 0.72 and 1.44 g/kg， calculated based on crude drug weight）， as well as positive control group （Dexamethasone acetate tablets， 0.2 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， asthma models were established in the remaining groups via intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin combined with aluminum hydroxide， followed by nebulized inhalation of ovalbumin. On day 14 of the experiment， rats in each group received intragastric administration of the corresponding solution or normal saline， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. Following the final administration， the following parameters were measured in each group： lung function indexes （forced vital capacity， forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second， peak expiratory flow）， serum levels of inflammatory markers （interleukin-1β， interleukin- 18）， and the percentages of inflammatory cells （lymphocytes， eosinophils， neutrophils） in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Histopathological changes in lung tissue were observed， and the protein and mRNA expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF- κB）， NLRP3 and caspase-1 in lung tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the normal group， pathological changes such as alveolar wall thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in rats in the model group. All pulmonary function indicators were significantly reduced in rats in the model group and the administration groups. The levels of inflammatory markers， the percentages of inflammatory cells， and the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB， NLRP3 and caspase-1 were significantly elevated or up-regulated （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， pathological changes in rats in each dosage group of Juanxiao decoction were significantly alleviated， and all quantitative indicators showed dose-dependent improvements （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Juanxiao decoction can reduce airway inflammatory responses in asthmatic rats， alleviate lung function impairment， and improve pathological changes such as inflammatory cell infiltration. Those effects may be related to the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect of decarbromodiphenyl ether(BDE-209)exposure on the migration ability of triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)cells and to explore the underlying mechanism.Methods:Human TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into blank control group and BDE-209 exposure groups(treated with 0.02,0.20,2.00,20.00 and 200.00 ng/mL BDE-209 in high glucose DMEM).Extracellular vehicles(EVs)secreted by MDA-MB-231 cells were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation.Transmission electron microscopy(SEM),nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA)and Western blotting were performed to characterize the EVs.The effect of the EVs induced by BDE-209 exposure(EVs-BDE-209)on the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells was detected by wound-healing assay and Transwell test.qRT-PCR was used to measure the miR-221 level in EVs-BDE-209.The expression of MMP9 in MDA-MB-231 cells was determined by Western blotting.Results:Compared with the blank control,BDE-209 exposure increased the tumor cell-derived EVs in dose-dependent manner.The MDA-MB-231 cells co-cultured with EVs released by 200.00 ng/mL BDE-209 exposure showed an 86%increase in cell migration rate,a 1.32-fold higher number of membrane-penetrating cells,a 2.71-fold higher expression level of miR-221,and a 1.62-fold higher expression level of MMP9 compared with the blank control group(all P<0.05).While transfection with anti-miR-221 antibody to decrease miR-221 level in EVs significantly reversed the increased invasion ability of the MDA-MB-231 cells treated with EVs-BDE-209.Conclusion:BDE-209 exposure may promote metastasis potential of MDA-MB-231 cells via EVs-BDE-209 transmitted miR-221.

Objective To study the change patterns of bone microstructural parameters around the magnesium based- implants after implantation in rabbit femur at different implantation time points. Methods The threaded and non-threaded high-purity magnesium (HP Mg, 99.99 wt.%) screws, with a 2 mm diameter and a 7 mm length, were implanted into the femoral condyle of the rabbits. The control group was the drilled and healthy group. Micro-CT scanning and analysis were performed at 8th, 12th and 16th week after operation. The obtained microstructural parameters included bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). Results At 8th week, BMD and BV/TV in non-threaded magnesium screw group were significantly higher than those in healthy group, Tb.N was significantly higher than that in drilled and healthy group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower than that in healthy group. At 12th week, BMD, BV/TV and Tb.N in threaded magnesium screw group were significantly higher than those in drilled and healthy group, Tb.Th was significantly higher than that in healthy group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower than that in drilled and healthy group. At 16th week, BMD, BV/TV and Tb.N in non-threaded magnesium screw group were significantly higher than those in drilled and healthy group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower than that in drilled and healthy group. Conclusions The magnesium based-implant promoted higher BMD, BV/TV, Tb.Th, Tb.N and lower Tb.Sp of surrounding implant, indicating that osseointegration and bone growth were in good condition. Magnesium based-implant could effectively promote the regeneration of bone. The results provide a theoretical basis for the orthopedic application of magnesium based-implants in clinic.

Objective To compare the in vivo degradation rates of two different kinds of high purity magnesium bone screws by animal experiments, so as to make some suggestions on structural design of high purity magnesium bone screws. Methods High purity magnesium bone screws with threads and without threads were implanted into femoral condyles of New Zealand rabbits separately. Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. They were euthanized at 8, 12 and 16 weeks after operation, respectively. The in vivo degradation rates of bone screws with two different shapes were compared through micro-CT scanning and Skyscan CT-analyser software, and the stress changes during the progress of bone screw degradation were analyzed. Results The initial surface area of threaded screws ［(31.70±0.06) mm2］ was significantly greater than that of the non-threaded ones ［(29.56±0.22) mm2］. After 8, 12 and 16 weeks, the volume loss ratios of the threaded screws were (26.01±3.44)%, (33.35±5.05)%, (36.84±6.99)%, respectively, and the volume loss ratios of the non-threaded screws were (22.53±4.78)%, (31.12±6.59)%, (43.22±9.31)%, respectively. At the same time point, there were no significant differences in the volume loss ratio between two kinds of screws. The relationship between the volume reduction and the implantation time was linear for non-threaded screws and gradually decreasing for threaded screws. Conclusions Under the low-bearing condition, different structural design for high purity magnesium screws has no obvious effect on their degradation rate in vivo.

Objective To explore the clinical characters and the relationship between prognosis and treatment in childhood acute non-lymphocytic leukemia(ANLL).Method We summarized and analyzed the cases with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia in children patients from our hospital admission between Jan 2003 and Sep 2007.Results ①The M1,M2 subtype of childhood ANLL were about 37.1%;the clinical situation was various;extramedullary infiltration was not uncommon;②A totle complete remission(CR)rate was 68.6% and the CR rate of one course chemotherapy was 40.1%;③The CR rate of acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL)was 87.5% and a average of continues CR(CCR)was 33 months after the treatment of ATRA combined with As2O3;④Among five patients finished all the courses of high dose Ara-c(HDAra-c)intensification therapy,three were CCR over 36 months.Conclusion ①The CR rate of one course chemotherapy was correlated to the intensity of treatment;②The treatment of As2O3 can help to lower the relapse of APL and enhance the event-free survival(EFS);③The treatment of HDAra-c can help to increase the EFS rate of childhood ANLL.