Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common adolescent skin condition which is mainly caused by Cutibacterium acnes overcolonization and subsequent inflammation. Objective: Our previous studies demonstrated that ethanol extracts of Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel (EMQ) possess significant antimicrobial properties. However, their protective effects and potential mechanisms against AV remain unclear. Methods: In the present study, the EMQ treatment potential for AV was evaluated in a C.acnes-induced mouse ear edema model, and the EMQ anti-inflammatory mechanism was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Results: The results showed that EMQ alleviated edema formation and inflammatory cell infiltration in an acne mouse model by suppressing inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α expression. Moreover, EMQ inhibited the phosphorylation of MAP kinases (MAPKs) such as p38, JNK, and ERK, the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion These findings suggest the potent anti-inflammatory activity of EMQ is possibly through the regulation of the MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways. Inhibition of C. acnes activity combined with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect of EMQ indicated its potential as a novel therapeutic option for AV.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the distribution of eosinophils(Eos) of nasal secretion and serum specific IgE(sIgE) titer in patients with allergic rhinitis, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of Eos in nasal secretion for allergic rhinitis. METHODS A total of 60 allergic rhinitis patients from Department of Otolaryngology, Beijing Shunyi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine during Jan.2016 to June 2017 were selected as treatment group, and another 60 cases of non-allergic rhinitis and 30 normal persons in the corresponding time period were chosen as control group. Eos in nasal secretions and serum sIgE were measured in all the subjects and the relationship between Eos distribution and serum sIgE level was analyzed. RESULTS The Eos distribution and serum level of sIgE was consistent(κ=0.264, P=0.000) and statistical significance was found. The area of ROC of the Eos in nasal secretion was 0.881, the standard deviation was 0.025 and 95％ confidence interval was 0.841 to 0.924. The Udden index of ROC reached the maximum when the Eos in nasal secretion smear was graded as level 3, the sensitivity was 88.5％ and specificity was 99.4％. CONCLUSION Eos cytological examination of nasal secretions has some auxiliary value in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. It is a cheap, simple and rapid method, which can be used as an effective reference index for diagnosing allergic rhinitis in primary hospital.

Aim To construct 3 D structure model of cardiac Cav1.2 channel and check its accuracy and re-liability.Methods Homology model of Cav1.2 chan-nel α1 subunit was constructed using SWISS-MODEL server.The model was submitted to an online testing server built by University of California and scored by it.The binding of Cav1.2 channel with blocker or drug was simulated by MOE software molecular docking pro-gram to check the model′s accuracy and reliability.Re-sults Both the target sequence Cav1.2 α1 C and the template sequence Cav1.1 α1 S searched by SWISS-MODEL server belonged to L-type Ca2+channel.Since the homology was 7 1.5% revealed by sequence align-ment,homology modeling was performed using automa-ted mode.L-type Ca2+ channel blockers Verapamil, Nifedipine and Diltiazem could bind to the 3 D structure model of Cav1.2 channel,while sodium channel bloc-ker TTX could not.Furthermore,active ingredient of traditional Chinese drug Praeruptorin A and Berberine could also bind to the 3D structure model of Cav1.2 channel.Conclusion The 3 D structure model of Cav1.2 channel was constructed successfully,which provides reliable materials for further studies and estab-lishes the foundation for the application of homology modeling in the study of 3 D structure prediction of ion channels.

Objective To construct a recombinant plasmid vector containing the distal fragment of the distal C-terminus (dDCT) of the Cav 1.2 channel,and express,extract,and purify dDCT protein and characterize its biological activity.Methods dDCT cDNA was ligated into the pGEX-6p-1 vector to create a recombinant plasmid that was subsequently transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 competent cells.Expression of GST-dDCT fusion protein from this plasmid was induced with isopropy-β-D-thiogalactoside,and the resulting protein was purified using glutathione-sepharose 4B beads.The biological activity of dDCT was analyzed by GST pull-down assay.Results The recombinant plasmid was verified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing.The concentration and purity of the dDCT protein,which was extracted by ultrasonication,were high enough to detect dDCT activity.The binding of dDCT to CT1 was determined to be concentration-dependent.Conclusion The recombinant dDCT plasmid was successfully constructed,providing the fundamental basis for future studies on mechanisms of Cav 1.2 channel autoregulation.

Objective To construct expression vectors of calmodulin(CaM)mutants N2 and C2,and to express,purify,and identify the mutant proteins,in order to study the interactions between CaM and calcium channels. Methods The cDNA of N?lobe and C?lobe of CaM were used to prepare the cDNA of N2 and C2. Next,the recombinant cDNAs were cloned into a pGEX?6p?3 plasmid,and the recombinant plasmids were trans?ferred into E.coli BL21 cells. The transfected BL21 cells were stimulated with IPTG. The fusion proteins were extracted by ultrasonication and puri?fied by using GS?4B beads. Finally,protein activity was identified by the pull?down assay. Results Both the restriction digestion map and the DNA sequence identification results confirmed that the recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed. SDS?PAGE results showed high purity and concentration of N2 and C2 proteins. Their activities and binding abilities with the calcium channel fragment were confirmed by the pull?down assay.Conclusion In this study,expression vectors of N2 and C2 are successfully constructed,and physiologically active N2 and C2 CaM mutant proteins are obtained.

Background:Pancreatitis is the main complication of ERCP,and a variety of risk factors will increase its risk. Studies showed that temporary pancreatic duct stent can reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Aims:To study the efficacy and safety of prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting on preventing PEP in patients with risk factors. Methods:Patients undergone ERCP and accompanied with one or more PEP-associated risk factors from November 2013 to November 2016 at Huaibei People's Hospital were enrolled,and were divided randomly into pancreatic duct stenting group (observation group)and non-stenting group (control group). Serum levels of amylase at 4,24 and 48 hours after the procedure and incidence of PEP were compared between the two groups. Results:A total of 297 patients were enrolled, and 147 patients were in observation group,and 150 patients in control group. No significant differences in gender,age and ERCP disease spectrum were found between the two groups (P > 0. 05). Incidence of PEP was significantly decreased in observation group than in control group (6. 1％ vs. 16. 0％,P < 0. 05). Serum levels of amylase at 4,24 and 48 hours after the procedure were significantly decreased in observation group than in corresponding control group (P < 0. 05), however,no significant difference in incidence of hyperamylasemia was found between the two groups (59. 2％ vs. 54. 7％, P > 0. 05). Conclusions:Prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting may decrease the incidence of PEP in patients accompanied with PEP-associated risk factors, especially could decrease the severity of PEP. However, the incidence of hyperamylasemia is not decreased.

Objective To construct plasmid vectors of calmodulin(CaM)Mg2+binding site mutants,and to express,purify and identify the mutant proteins. Methods Three kinds of cDNAs coding for the mutated CaM were cloned into pGEX?6P?3 plasmid vectors. These recombinant plasmids were transfected into Escherichia coli BL21 to express GST fusion proteins of CaM mutants. The fusion proteins were purified with Glutathione?Sep?harose 4B beads and PreScission protease. Results Both enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequence identification proved the successful con?struction of the CaM mutant plasmids. SDS?PAGE results showed the high purity of each CaM mutant protein. The concentrations of three CaM mu?tants were around 1.0 mg/mL. Conclusion Prokayotic expression vectors of CaM Mg2+binding site mutants were successfully developed,and the eli?gible CaM mutant proteins were obtained. This study provided an important basis for further study on CaM’s biological function.

Objective To improve the detecting sensitivity of serum specific IgE (sIgE) by improving the quality of coated antigen in shrimp. Methods The extracts from shrimp protein was prepared. Western blot assay was used to identify the major allergenic protein components. The protein components>55 ku were separated by Sephadex gel chromatography. SDS-PAGE technology was used to analyze proteins. Samples of shrimp protein and proteins>55 ku were used as the coat-ing antigen to coat 96 microplate respectively. Western blot assay and ELISA were used to evaluate preliminary sensitivity of the purified antigen for detecting sIgE. Results Immunoblot experiments showed that the protein>55 ku was the main aller-genic protein component of shrimp. Those >55 ku proteins were separated successfully by Sephadex gel chromatography, showing 10 identifiable bands in SDS-PAGE. Dot-pot immunoassay showed that proteins>55 ku used as coated antigens could improve the spots density of the weak serum. Meanwhile, the result of ELISA showed that sIgE detection value in-creased 92.9%in patients with shrimp allergy after coating effective antigens. Conclusion The detecting sensitivity of sIgE can be improved by using effective protein components of shrimp as coated antigens.

Objective To explore the English newspaper reading activities which are well-suited for medical students. Methods At the end of an optional course News in English, a question-naire investigation was conducted among 86 enrolled students on their degree of preference for the 8 kinds of news reading activities designed for this course. Questionnaire data were processed by SPSS 13.0 software. Percentages were calculated and ANOVA tests were employed to compare the prefer-ence degree between different activities. P<0.05 signifies statistical differences. Results The prefer-ence degree for all the 8 activities were above 3 out of a total of 5. The score for most activities fell between 3 and 4. Each activity was ‘liked’ or ‘loved’ by more than half of students. There was no significant difference either between the scores for the 8 activities, or between the scores of each activ-ity for different semesters(P>0.05). Conclusions The eight types of English news reading activities are well suited for the interest of most medical students. Nevertheless, they still need improving in several aspects to increase students’ interest in newspaper reading and further motivate them in relat-ed English learning activities, including selection of text material.

Objective To investigate the roles of glutamate signaling pathway in the activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs) and pathogenesis of vitiligo.Methods Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) isolated from 5 patients with generalized vitiligo and 5 healthy controls were cultured in vitro.Flow cytometry was performed to quantify the expression of CD25 and interferon-γ on PBLs derived from healthy controls and treated with MK801 (a non-competitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor,NMDAR) at 100 μmol/L or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 48 hours,as well as the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the controlderived PBLs treated with MK801 at 100 μmol/L,NMDA (an agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor) at 0.5 mmol/L or PBS for 48 hours.The protein and mRNA expressions of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2A were measured by flow cytometry and real-time PCR,respectively,in PBLs from the healthy controls and vitiligo patients.Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expressions of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2A in tissue specimens from depigmented and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation lesions of the patients with vitiligo and from normal skin of the healthy controls.Results Compared with the PBS-treated PBLs from the healthy controls,the MK801-treated PBLs showed a downregulated expression of CD25 (7.28％ ± 0.18％ vs.16.02％ ± 0.42％,P ＜ 0.01),but an upregulated proportion of CD25+IFN-γ+ lymphocytes (1.79％ ± 0.09％ vs.0.78％ ± 0.06％,P ＜ 0.01),and the NMDA-treated PBLs displayed a higher ROS level (101.1 ± 3.50 vs.69.80 ± 2.08,P＜ 0.01 ).The protein expression of NMDAR1 in PBLs was significantly higher in vitiligo patients than in the healthy controls (3.85 ± 2.17 vs.0.97 ±0.55,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Glutamate signaling pathway may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of vitiligo via affecting the secretion of interferon-γ by,and ROS level in,activated lymphocytes.