OBJECTIVES: Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute respiratory failure syndrome characterized by impaired gas exchange. Due to the lack of effective targeted drugs, it is associated with high mortality and poor prognosis. Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in the treatment of various diseases. This study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of TW on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in ALI, providing experimental evidence for TW as a potential adjuvant therapy for ALI. METHODS: Eighteen specific pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC; intranasal saline), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 5 mg/kg intranasally to induce ALI), and LPS+TW (50 mg/kg TW by gavage on the first day of modeling, followed by 5 mg/kg LPS intranasally to induce ALI) groups (n=6 each). Lung injury and edema were assessed by histopathological scoring and wet-to-dry weight ratio. Cytokine levels [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] in lung tissue lavage fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry was used to assess the proportions of MDSCs, polymorphonuclear MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs), and monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs) in bone marrow, spleen, peripheral blood, and lung tissue, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in lung tissues. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1 (ARG-1) in lung tissues were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). PMN-MDSCs sorted from the lungs of LPS-treated mice were co-cultured with splenic CD3⁺ T cells and divided into NC, triptolide (TPL)-L, and TPL-H groups, with bovine serum albumin, 25 nmol/L TPL, and 50 nmol/L TPL, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of PMN-MDSCs on T-cell proliferation, and RT-qPCR was used to measure iNOS and ARG-1 mRNA expression. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, the LPS group showed marked lung pathology with significantly increased histopathological scores and wet-to-dry ratios (both P<0.001). TW treatment significantly alleviated lung injury and reduced both indices compared with the LPS group (both P<0.05). Cytokine levels were significantly decreased in the LPS+TW group compared with the LPS group (all P<0.001). The proportions of MDSCs in CD45⁺ cells from spleen, bone marrow, peripheral blood, and lung, as well as PMN-MDSCs from spleen, peripheral blood, and lung, were significantly reduced in the LPS+TW group compared with the LPS group (all P<0.05), accompanied by reduced ROS levels in lung tissues (P<0.001). iNOS and ARG-1 mRNA expression in lung tissues was significantly lower in the LPS+TW group than in the LPS group (both P<0.001). In vitro, compared with the TPL-L group, the TPL-H group showed significantly increased CD3⁺ T-cell proliferation (P<0.001), and decreased iNOS and ARG-1 mRNA expression (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS TW alleviates the progression of LPS-induced ALI in mice, potentially by reducing the proportion of MDSCs in lung tissues and attenuating the immunosuppressive function of PMN-MDSCs.
Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells/cytology* ; Tripterygium/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Male ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Diterpenes/pharmacology* ; Epoxy Compounds ; Phenanthrenes

Ultra-rapid cooling and rewarming rate is a critical technical approach to achieve ice-free cells during the freezing and melting process. A set of ultra-rapid solid surface freeze-thaw visualization system was developed based on a sapphire flim, and experiments on droplet freeze-thaw were carried out under different cryoprotectant components, volumes and laser energies. The results showed that the cooling rate of 1 μL mixed cryoprotectant [1.5 mol/L propylene glycol (PG) + 1.5 mol/L ethylene glycol (EG) + 0.5 mol/L trehalose (TRE)] could be 9.2×10 ³ °C/min. The volume range of 1-8 μL droplets could be vitrified. After comparing the proportions of multiple cryoprotectants, the combination of equal proportion mixed permeability protectant and trehalose had the best vitrification freezing effect and more uniform crystallization characteristics. During the rewarming operation, the heating curve of glassy droplets containing gold nanoparticles was measured for the first time under the action of 400-1 200 W laser power, and the rewarming rate was up to the order of 10 ⁶ °C/min. According to the droplet images of different power rewarming processes, the laser power range for ice-free rewarming with micron-level resolution was clarified to be 1 400-1 600 W. The work of this paper simultaneously realizes the ultra-high-speed temperature ramp-up, transient visual observation and temperature measurement of droplets, providing technical means for judging the ice free droplets during the freeze-thaw process. It is conducive to promoting the development of ultra-rapid freeze-thaw technology for biological cells and tissues.
Freezing ; Vitrification ; Cryopreservation/methods* ; Trehalose ; Gold ; Rewarming ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Cryoprotective Agents ; Lasers

Humans ; Heparin/therapeutic use* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Insufficiency

Objective Analysis of the teaching effect of the micro-classroom in the experimental teaching of diagnostics.Methods In the 50 classes of undergraduate clinical specialty of 2014 level of guangdong medical mniversity,2 classes were selected as the control group (n=67) by random number table method,2 classes were selected as the experience group (n=65).Theoretical knowledge and clinical skills were calculated.Recognition of two groups of students on two kinds of teaching methods.The data of two groups were compared using t-test and chi-square test.Results The results of the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills of the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group (P< 0.05).There was a significant difference between the two groups (P< 0.05),which was found to be able to deepen the understanding of theoretical knowledge,to improve the ability of clinical skills operation,to cultivate clinical thinking and to mobilize the enthusiasm of independent learning.Conclusions Micro classroom teaching can significantly improve the quality of experimental training of diagnoses.

The current status of the application of data mining in Chinese medicine (TCM) safety research are analyzed in this paper, and the future development trend are discussed, which include: to establish ADR (adverse drug reaction) signal detection and automatic warning system based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) adverse reaction database, to explore the characteristics and influencing factors of TCM safety problems, to devise appropriate new algorithm, and to develop TCM adverse reaction literature mining.
Animals ; Data Mining ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; analysis ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control

In this retrospective study, 56 cases of adverse reactions caused by Niuhuang Jiedu tablet (pill) were statistically analyzed in respects of genders, ages, routes of administration, clinical manifestations, etc. We pinpointed that the main factors related to safety problems of Niuhuang Jiedu tablet (pill) are irrational drug use and drug quality, and put forward suggestions for strengthening the surveillance and administration of Niuhuang Jiedu tablet (pill) and improving clinical rational use.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy ; standards ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Tablets ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The prompt and efficient peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization is necessary for repairing and regenerating injured tissues. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) or its combination with a large dose of chemotherapy is usually utilized for PBSC mobilization, but the regimen requires a long time and a complex procedure. OBJECTIVE: To modify the common PBSC mobilization, and investigate mobilization effect of PBSC in KM mice with short-duration and high-dose rhG-CSF. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized controlled animal trial was carried out in the laboratory of Hematology, the Second Affiliated Hospital to Dalian Medical University from September 2006 to March 2007. MATERIALS: Twenty-four KM male mice of 8 months old were divided into 3 groups according to the administration: conventional regimen group, short-duration and high-dose group, and saline control group. METHODS: Mice in the conventional regimen group were injected subcutaneously with rhG-CSF (0.2 ?g one time, twice a day for 6 days). Mice in the short-duration and high-dose group were injected with equal volume of normal saline at first 4 days, and then with rhG-CSF (2.5 ?g one time, twice a day for 2 days). Mice in the saline control group were injected subcutaneously with equal volume of normal saline for 6 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peripheral blood white blood cell (WBC) and colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage in KM mice were counted. RESULTS: WBC in the peripheral blood of KM mice increased rapidly in conventional regimen group and short-duration and high-dose group. No obvious change of WBC was observed in the control group. The number of colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage in conventional regimen group and short-duration and high-dose group was significantly elevated over 50 folds than control group (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a good efficacy and feasibility in PBSC mobilization of KM mice with short-duration and large-dose rhG-CSF, and it is a successful amelioration of PBSC mobilization of mice peripheral blood.

Objective To explore the expression of beta 2 adrenergic receptors(?2-AR) in bone marrow cells and its significance and provide a scientific basis for the theory of hematopoietic regulation by nerve factors.Methods After bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated from normal mouse bone marrow by the Ficoll density gradient centrifugation,the expressions of ?2-AR were studied by immunohistochemistry in bone marrow mononuclear cells,cultured bone marrow stromal cells,GM-CFUs,paraffin sections and smears of bone marrow.Mouse models of immune-mediated aplastic anemia(AA) were made by lymphocyte infusion.Mice were divided into 3 groups including animal model group,?2-AR antagonist (ICI 118551) group,and control group,and the expression of ?2-AR in bone marrow mononuclear cells at the 8 th day was detected by Western blotting.Results The positive expression of ?2-AR in cytoplasm or membrane of normal mouse bone marrow cells showed different brown by immunohistochemical staining.There were intensive positive expressions of ?2-AR in mononuclear cells(48%) and bone marrow stromal cells (68%),while progenitor cells only showed middle-positive(55%)or weak positive(45%),and other hematopoietic accessory cells were positive in varying degrees.The relative values of ?2-AR of bone marrow mononuclear cells in 3 groups were 1.03?0.31,1.72?0.29 and 1.41?0.35,respectively;the expression of ?2-AR in animal model group was more lower than that in control group(P