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Objective: To understand the effect of collagen peptides on the function of mouse lymphocytes under simulated microgravity., Methods: The splenocytes of mice were isolated, and the rotary cell culture system was used to simulate the microgravity. The T lymphocytes were stimulated with mitotic agents, concanavalin A (ConA), and the cells were treated with different concentrations of collagen peptides. The proliferation of lymphocytes and the levels of cytokines in the supernatant were detected., Results: Simulated microgravity could inhibit the proliferation of spleen T lymphocytes and decrease the level of cytokines in the supernatant. Collagen peptides could promote the lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production in cells cultured under simulated microgravity., Conclusion: Collagen peptides may attenuate the inhibitory effect of simulated microgravity on T lymphocytes by regulating the cell proliferation and the secretion of cytokines.

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6) + "Yuji" (LU 10) for the airway remodeling in asthma rats based on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/ Smad family member 3 (Smad3) signaling pathway; and explore the efficacy difference between the two acupoint combinations., Methods: Forty SPF male SD rats, aged 4 weeks, were randomly divided into a blank group ( n = 10) and a modeling group ( n = 30). The ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization method was used to establish asthma model in the modeling group. After successful model preparation, the rats of the modeling group were randomized into a model group, an acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) (AAF) group, and acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) (AAK) group, with 10 rats in each one. Starting from day 15 of the experiment, 5 min after motivating, acupuncture was applied to "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) in the AAF group and the AAK group respectively. The intervention was delivered for 30 min each time, once daily, lasting 3 weeks consecutively. Using lung function detector, the airway resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) of the lungs were detected. The histomorphology of lung tissues was detected with HE staining and Masson staining, and the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in lung tissues was detected with the real-time PCR and Western blot methods., Results: Compared with the blank group, RL was increased and Cdyn was decreased in the rats of the model group ( P <0.01); and RL was reduced and Cdyn was increased in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with those in the model group ( P <0.01, P <0.05). The rats of the model group had bronchial lumen stenosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibre hyperplasia and thickened smooth muscle in the lung tissues when compared with those in the blank group; and in comparison with the model group, all of the above morphological changes were attenuated in the AAF group and the AAK group. Besides, these morphological changes of the lung tissues were more alleviated in the AAF group when compared with those in the AAK group. In comparison with the blank group, the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 of the lung tissues was increased in the model group ( P <0.01), and it was reduced in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with that in the model group ( P <0.05, P <0.01). The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 was lower in the AAF group when compared with that in the AAK group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture at either "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) or "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) reduces the airway remodeling in the rats with asthma, which may be related to the down-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3. The better efficacy is obtained with acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1).

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-negative early gastric cancer., Methods: The clinicopathological data of 30 cases of Hp-negative early gastric cancer were collected retrospectively at Pingdingshan Medical District, 989 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, from 2009 to 2021, and the histomorphological characteristics and immunophenotype were observed, and combined with the literature to explore., Results: The median age of 30 patients was 58.5 years (range: 21-80 years), including 13 males and 17 females. The upper part of the stomach was 13 cases, the middle part of the sto-mach was 9 cases, and the lower part of the stomach was 8 cases. The median diameter of the tumor was 11 mm (range: 1-30 mm). According to the Paris classification, 9 cases were 0-Ⅱa, 7 cases were 0-Ⅱb, and 14 cases were 0-Ⅱc. Endoscopic examination showed that 18 cases of lesions were red, 12 cases of lesions were faded or white, and microvascular structures and microsurface structures were abnormal. In all the cases, collecting venules were regularly arranged in the gastric body and corner mucosa. There were 18 cases of well differentiated adenocarcinoma in the mucosa. The tumor presented glandular tubular-like and papillary structure, with dense glands and disordered arrangement; the cells were cuboidal or columnar, with increased nuclear chromatin and loss of nuclear polarity, and most of them expressed gastric mucin. Signet-ring cell carcinoma was found in 7 cases, all the cancer tissues were composed of signet-ring cells, and the cancer cells were mainly distributed in the middle layer to the surface layer of mucosa. Gastric oxyntic gland adenoma (gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland type confined to mucosa) in 2 cases, gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland type in 2 cases, and gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland mucosa type in 1 case. The tumor tissue was composed of branching tubular glands, except 1 case of mucosal surface epithelium was partially neoplastic, the other 4 cases of mucosal surface epi-thelium were all non-neoplastic; the cells were arranged in a single layer, and the nucleus was close to the basal side, and the nucleus was only slightly atypical. Pepsinogen I and H + /K + ATPase were positive in 5 cases of gastric fundus gland type tumors, and 1 case of foveolar-type tumor cells at the surface and depth of mucosa showed MUC5AC positive. The gastric mucosa adjacent to cancer was generally normal in all cases, without atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and Hp., Conclusion: Hp-negative early gastric cancer is a heterogeneous disease group with various histological types, and tubular adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma are common. Tubular adenocarcinoma mostly occurs in the elderly and the upper to middle part of the stomach, while signet-ring cell carcinoma mostly occurs in young and middle-aged people and the lower part of the stomach. Gastric neoplasm of the fundic gland type is relatively rare.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of verrucous type (squamous) dysplasia of esophagus. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 18 verrucous type dysplasia of esophagus patients in the 989th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People's Liberation Army (formerly 152 Central Hospital) and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from 2009 to 2021 were retrospectively collected. The histomorphologic characteristics and immunophenotype were observed, and human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping was detected by PCR-fluorescence probe. The relevant literature was reviewed. Results: The median age of the 18 patients was 68 years (range 53-76 years); there were 13 males and 5 females. There were four cases in the upper esophagus, seven in the middle esophagus and seven in the lower esophagus. The median diameter of the lesion was 18 mm (range 6-54 mm). According to the Paris Classification, 11 cases were 0-Ⅱa, one case was 0-Ⅱa+Ⅰ, five cases were 0-Ⅱb, and one case was 0-Ⅱb+Ⅰ. White light endoscopy showed that the surface of the lesion was white plaque, red areas between the plaques, and papillary surface structure could be seen. In narrow-band imaging, some mucosal areas of lesions were opaque or patchy and light brown, and papillary microsurface structures were different in shapes and sizes. Intraepithelial microvessels were elongated, dilated, twisted and varied in diameter. Lugol iodine stain showed nil to faint staining. Histologically, the atypia cells were large with rounded to irregular nuclei, coarse chromatin, mitotic figures, and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. The basal cells showed increased atypia, crowding, increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, and active mitosis. The cells were arranged haphazardly. Single cell keratinization, binuclear cells, and hollow-out-like cells, as well as surface epithelial keratinization and parakeratosis were observed in three cases. There were obvious verrucous or papillary structures in the epithelial layer. Five patients had local verrucous carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the mutant expression of p53 protein in 6/10 cases; p16 was positive in 5/10 cases; abnormal Ki-67 distribution pattern in 10/10 cases. HPV was negative in all 10 cases tested. The original pathologic diagnosis of preoperative biopsy was high-grade dysplasia in 8 cases, low-grade dysplasia in 6 cases and atypical squamous epithelial cells in 4 cases. Conclusions: Esophageal verrucous dysplasia tumor cells are well differentiated with obvious verrucous or papillary structures. The unique morphological features suggest that it represents a histological subtype of esophageal squamous high-grade dysplasia and it is a precursor of verrucous carcinoma. Its preoperative biopsy diagnosis is challenging.

Objective To investigate the incidence,treatment,therapeutic effect,and impact on quality of life of pain-depression comorbidity in the patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD).Methods The NMOSD patients comorbid with pain visiting the out-patient clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were interviewed in a face-to-face manner by neurologists for evaluating the neurologic disease.Pain,depression,and quality of life were evaluated by anesthesiologists based on the brief pain inventory,the Beck depression inventory-Ⅱ,and the MOS 36-item short form health survey scales,respectively.Results Totally 81 patients were included in this study,among which 38(46.9%)patients comorbid with depression were enrolled in the comorbidity group.The pain severity showed no significant difference between the two groups(3.3±3.1 vs. 2.3±2.2, P =0.087).The daily life activities and health-related quality of life were more severely influenced in the patients with comorbidity than in the patients without comorbidity as illustrated by the breif pain inventory[general activity and normal work( P =0.001);mood,relationship with other people,and enjoyment of life(all P <0.001);walking ability( P =0.004);sleep( P =0.016)]and the MOS 36-item short form health survey scales[physical functioning( P =0.001);role-physical,bodily pain,general health,vitality,social functioning,role-emotional,mental health(all P <0.001)].Only 30.9% of pain sufferers received analgesic medications,with the mean pain reduction percentage of(53.6±28.9)%.None of the patients in this study took antidepressants.Conclusions Pain-depression comorbidity was common in NMOSD patients and severely influenced the quality of life of the patients.However,only a few patients received analgesic or antidepressant medications.Pain-depression comorbidity in NMOSD patients should be scrutinized.

Objective: To evaluate the concentration of cytokines in the aqueous humor of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) patients at the angle-closure stage in different treatment periods and its relationship with recurrence. Methods: A prospective case-control study. Angle-closure stage NVG patients who came to Peking University Third Hospital from September 2018 to September 2019 were enrolled and followed-up for at least 12 months. Patients received triple sequential therapy, including anti-vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) injection, trabeculectomy, and panretinal photocoagulation. The aqueous humor before anti-VEGF treatment, before trabeculectomy, and during recurrence was collected. Multiplex bead immunoassay was applied to measure the concentration of 45 cytokines including VEGF, interleukin (IL), and chemokine. The relevant data were compared with the values of 25 proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients and 24 age-related cataract patients undergoing phacoemulsification as controls. The concentration of cytokines was presented as M ( Q 1 , Q 3 ). The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis H test was applied to compare the cytokine concentration between the NVG group and controls. The difference between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups was compared with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The average age of NVG patients was (60±11) years, and there were 22 males and 10 females. No significant differences were found in age and gender between the NVG group and the two control groups (both P >0.05). The median concentrations of VEGF in the NVG group before anti-VEGF treatment, before trabeculectomy, and after recurrence were 2 151.3 (1 433.1, 4 280.0) ng/L, 655.4 (287.3, 836.3) ng/L and 2 003.4 (1 603.1, 2 468.9) ng/L respectively. The concentrations of VEGF before anti-VEGF treatment and after recurrence in the NVG group were significantly higher than the PDR group [453.8 (189.9, 595.8) ng/L] and the cataract group [143.5 (112.7, 269.8) ng/L] (all P <0.05). The median concentration of programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) was 38.9 (22.4, 50.6) ng/L before anti-VEGF treatment, higher than that in the PDR group [12.0 (6.3, 20.1) ng/L] and the cataract group [14.6 (11.4, 19.3) ng/L]. The median concentration of fractalkine was 242.7 (189.0, 306.7) ng/L, higher than that in the PDR group [131.1 (119.1, 157.6) ng/L] and the cataract group [116.7 (10.2, 135.9) ng/L]. The median concentration of IL-7 was 18.0 (12.0, 32.7) ng/L, higher than that in the PDR group [7.7 (2.0, 10.8) ng/L] and the cataract group [3.3 (1.9, 6.8) ng/L]. The median concentration of eotaxin was 84.0 (52.4, 122.7) ng/L, higher than that in the PDR group [26.6 (17.1, 72.3) ng/L] and the cataract group [7.1 (5.6, 14.8) ng/L]. The median concentration of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) was 3.6 (2.8, 6.4) ng/L, higher than that in the cataract group [1.1 (0.3, 2.3) ng/L]. All the differences were statistically significant (all P <0.05). There were no significant differences between the NVG and control groups in other cytokines or other treatment periods (all P >0.05). Six NVG patients suffered recurrence during the follow-up. The baseline concentration of IL-7 of these patients [10.5 (8.4, 16.0) ng/L] was significantly lower than that in patients who did not have recurred disease [22.7 (15.7, 34.1) ng/L] ( Z =-2.74, P <0.01). Conclusions: In the angle-closure stage of NVG patients, the concentrations of VEGF, PD-L1, fractalkine, IL-7, eotaxin, and TRAIL in the aqueous humor significantly increase during the onset of disease. Lower IL-7 may indicate a recurring tendency.

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins are persistent organic pollutants, and chlorinated paraffins were widely used as sizing agent in the paper industry. In order to investigate the levels and risk assessment of short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in the paper mill plant, the surface soil and soil of different depths were collected.The concentrations, congener group profiles of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) in soil were determined by two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with electron capture-negative ion mass spectrometry. The SCCPs and MCCPs concentrations were 42-3853 ng·g -1 and 34-2091 ng·g -1 . The chlorine contents were 59.9%-61.9% and 48.7%-52.8%. The concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs were different in the soil collected in different sampling site. The concentration of SCCPs and MCCPs were relatively higher in soil of sewage treatment area and coating area. The CP levels in soil from the paper mill plant were at a high level compared with those in other regions. C 10 Cl 6-7 and C 14-15 Cl 5 were the main congener groups in most soil samples. The results of principal component analysis showed that the CP52 commercial products may be sources of SCCPs and MCCPs in the soil. The risk quotient (RQ) for SCCPs and MCCPs were assessed in soil of paper mill plant. The results showed that the RQ values for SCCPs in soil ranged from 0.01 to 0.73 which are the medium risk, and the RQ values for MCCPs in soil ranged from 0 to 0.07, which are the low risk. The human exposure values of children and adults are lower than TDI[10 μg·(kg·d) -1 ] in both cases. The health risks caused by non-dietary exposure under paper mill area are low.

Objective: To investigate the pathomorphological characteristics of colorectal adenoma with submucosal pseudoinvasion and to summarize the corresponding pseudoinvasion patterns. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 9 cases of colorectal adenoma were collected at 989 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force (4 cases) and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University (5 cases), from 2016 to 2019. retrospectively, and the histomorphological characteristics and immunophenotypes were analyzed, and discussed in light of the relevant literature. Results: There were 8 cases of adenoma with stalk. Tumor glands were found in the submucosa at the head end of adenoma, similar to infiltrating adenocarcinoma. The structure and cellular morphology of submucosal glands were very similar to the intramucosal tumor while the local submucosal tumor showed continuity with the intramucosal tumor. The submucosal tumors were lobule-like or nest-like with clear boundary. The outline of the gland was smooth and blunt-round, and there was loose fibromyxoid stroma around the gland, similar to the mucosa propria stroma. Some cases of the submucosal glands were cystic dilated with mucocele formation and hemosiderin deposition. One case with broad stalk-base showed an elevated adenoma with local high grade dysplasia involved in the aggregated lymphoid nodule, forming the lymphoglandular complexes, simulating invasive adenocarcinoma with associated submucosal lymphoid aggregates. Submucosal cancer tissue and intramucosal cancer tissue had continuity, and their morphology was the same. The submucosal tumor was round in the outline, smooth and blunt in the edge, and surrounded by lymphoid tissue. There was no stromal response around the gland to promote the proliferation of connective tissue, neither was there single-cell or small-cell cluster, sharp angle branch of gland, or vascular infiltration. Conclusions: There are two unique morphological patterns in colorectal adenoma with submucosal pseudoinvasion. Morphologically, the data show that one is lobular-like pattern, and the other is lymphoglandular complexes-like pattern. The main features of the two patterns are the same-morphology and continuity of submucosal tumor and intramucosal tumor. The pushed glands were surrounded by the intrinsic membrane stroma and muscularis mucosae in proper order, lacking the typical morphological characteristics of invasive adenocarcinoma.

A passive air sampler was used to monitor the concentration and contamination profile of 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the atmosphere over the urban and industrial area of Gaolan, a city in northwest China, during the non-heating and heating seasons of 2018, and the sources, pollutant transport, and the health risks of PCB exposure were analyzed and assessed using principle component analysis, trajectory modeling, and inhalation exposure modeling. The atmospheric concentration in the study area ranged from 110.2 to 429.9 pg·m -3 , and the highest average concentration was found at the industrial estate. Tetra-PCBs and penta-PCBs were the dominant homologue groups, and the percentage of tetra-PCBs increased in the heating season. Combustion and industrial thermal processes, PCB-containing electrical equipment, and the combined source of volatilization from paint, combustion, and industrial thermal processes were considered to be the main sources, and the source of combustion and industrial thermal processes contributed the largest proportion of PCBs at 40.8%. Largely, the emission of UP-PCBs would significantly influence PCB pollution in the study area. Trajectory analysis results illustrated that PCBs emitted from sources in the study area would be transmitted to Lanzhou City atmospherically; local pollution would be the main source of PCBs contamination in the study area during the non-heating season, while the atmospheric input of PCBs transmitted from the northwest region would be another source during the heating season. Health risk analysis showed that the non-cancer risk of PCBs exposure was low in all age groups; however, lifetime cancer risks exceeded 10 -6 . PCBs emitted from combustion and industrial thermal processes sources would have a strong impact on resident exposure to PCBs, and adverse health effects would be caused due to long-term inhalation exposure of the inhabitants to PCBs contamination in the study area.

Aerosol acidity is closely related to particle properties and the explosive growth of secondary particles. Aerosol pH is difficult to measure directly but can be estimated indirectly by thermodynamic equilibrium modeling. ISORROPIA-Ⅱ is one of the most commonly used thermodynamic models and includes different modes (forward and reverse) and aerosol states (stable and metastable). Studies have shown that the calculated pH results vary with the selected mode and phase state. In addition to the selection of modes and phases, there are also other factors that influence the modeling results. In order to explore the appropriate mode and phase selection of ISORROPIA-Ⅱ as well as the factors influencing the model results under the air pollution characteristics of typical Chinese cities, the simulation results of different modes and aerosol states were analyzed by using online hourly data for Tianjin. The results showed that the pH calculations using the forward mode and metastable state were satisfactory at a higher RH. With increased temperature, the pH, aerosol water content, and concentration proportion in the aerosol phase of semi-volatile components all decreased. RH affected aerosol pH by influencing the aerosol water content and concentration of semi-volatile components. An increased cation concentration led to an increased pH and NH 3 concentration but a decreased HNO 3 concentration, whereas an increased anion concentration had the opposite effect. Ca 2+ , SO 4 2- , NO 3 - , and NH 4 + had a great influence on pH. Compared with SO 4 2- , NO 3 - had less effect on pH. Sensitive areas exist in the influence of NH 4 + on pH, and a high NH 4 + concentration did not cause a continuous pH increase. This study can improve the understanding of aerosol pH simulation using ISORROPIA-Ⅱ, and provides reference for research on the pH-related secondary generation mechanism, semi-volatile component gas-particle distribution, and pollution control measures.

Objective: To investigate whether collagen peptides can improve the immune functions of mice under the condition of simulated weightlessness., Methods: Mouse tail-suspension model was used to simulate the effects of weightlessness. Tail-suspended mice were intraperitoneally injected with 600 mg collagen peptides per kilogram body weight once a day for 10 days. Then, the mice were killed, and white blood cells were counted and classified. Lymphocyte subsets and T lymphocyte proliferations in spleens were analyzed., Results: Compared with normal control group, total and differential count of leukocytes, lymphocytes, T cells，CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, B cells and NK cells, and splenic T lymphocyte proliferation all decreased in the weightlessness simulated mice (P＜0.05). Except for NK cells, the above-mentioned parameters were increased after administration of collagen peptides, and some of the parameters were recovered to the levels of normal control mice (P＜0.05)., Conclusion: Collagen peptides can effectively improve peripheral blood lymphocyte distributions and T lymphocyte proliferations of mice under the condition of simulated weightlessness. This study nay provid the experimental basis for improvement of immune functions of astronauts.

PCDD/Fs emission inventory is the basis for PCDD/Fs control, research on environmental fate behavior, and health risk assessment. In the present study, based on officially released PCDD/Fs emissions inventory for each industry in China in 2004, we estimated atmospheric PCDD/Fs emissions by sector in various provinces in 2016 by combining the emission intensity in the "Identification and Quantification of PCDD/Fs Emission Standards Toolkit" released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 2013. Subsequently, using different gridding data for various sectors as surrogate data, we established atmospheric gridded emission inventory (1/4°×1/4° latitude by longitude) for PCDD/Fs in China. Finally, the uncertainty of PCDD/Fs emission inventory was analyzed. Results show that the atmospheric emissions of PCDD/Fs in China in 2016 were 10366 g, which was about two times higher than that in 2004. From the perspective of the emission sector, metal smelting is the largest emitter of PCDD/Fs in China, which released 5333 g, followed by waste incineration (2469 g), heating and power generation (1290 g), and mineral production (933 g). These four sectors accounted for 97% of China's total PCDD/Fs emissions. In spatial terms, China's atmospheric PCDD/Fs emissions are mainly concentrated in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta regions. PCDD/Fs emissions from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Yangtze River Delta regions originate mainly from steel smelting, and that from the Pearl River Delta region is mainly due to waste incineration.

Objective: Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has been used to quantify inflammatory response in the body. The aim of the present study was to explore the possibility of using this method to evaluate the stability of atherosclerotic plaques and the efficacy of atorvastatin in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: Twenty New Zealand male white rabbits were included and divided into the atorvastatin intervention group and the control group, with 10 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in both groups were fed with a high fat diet for 20 weeks, and treated with thoracoabdominal aortic balloon-pulling to establish atherosclerosis model at the end of the 2nd week. Rabbits in atorvastatin intervention group was given atorvastatin intragastrically once a day. At the 8th week, thoracoabdominal aortic ultrasound was used to detect plaques in all rabbits. Blood was drawn at the 3rd and the 20th week, respectively, to measure blood lipids, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). At the end of experiment, survival animals were scanned by (18)F-FDG PET-CT, and the average and maximum standard uptake values (SUVmean, SUVmax) of aortic segments were measured. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed and aortic specimens of rabbits were taken and examined by immunohistochemistry. The pathological indexes were measured and compared. Results: At the end of experiment, the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hs-CRP [ (4.58±0.51) ng/ml vs.(5.87±0.66) ng/ml, P< 0.01], MMP-9[ (43.93±2.16) ng/ml vs. (50.77±2.32) ng/ml, P< 0.01], SUVmean (0.59±0.15 vs. 0.68±0.20, P< 0.05) , SUVmax (0.68±0.20 vs. 0.81±0.27, P< 0.05) , plaque area [ (0.36±0.24) mm(2) vs. (0.50±0.34) mm(2), P< 0.05) ] and density of macrophage[ (4.34±1.54) % vs. (5.65±1.89) %, P< 0.01] in the atorvastatin intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In contrast, fiber cap thickness of the plaque[ (4.12±0.66) μm vs. (2.96±0.37) μm, P< 0.01] in the atorvastatin intervention group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. The arterial plaque areas were positively correlated with SUVmean ( r= 0.27, P< 0.05) and SUVmax ( r= 0.43, P< 0.01) . Fiber cap thickness was negatively correlated with SUVmean ( r= -0.38, P< 0.05) and SUVmax ( r= -0.47, P< 0.01) . The density of macrophage were positively correlated with SUVmean ( r= 0.52, P< 0.01) and SUVmax ( r= 0.51, P< 0.01) . Conclusion: (18)F-FDG PET/CT can be used to evaluate the efficacy of atorvastatin by the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.

Passive air samplers (PAS-PUF) and passive dry deposition (PAS-DD) samplers were applied in the Bosten Lake watershed located in Xinjiang to estimate the atmospheric concentrations and dry deposition fluxes for 15 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during a heating period in 2016 and no-heating period in 2017, respectively. The results showed that the atmospheric PAHs concentrations in the Bosten oasis area ranged from 6.38 ng·m -3 to 245.43 ng·m -3 during the heating period and 2.33 ng·m -3 to 74.76 ng·m -3 during the non-heating period. The highest atmospheric PAHs concentrations were found in the residential area, followed by regions near Bosten Lake and Tazhong. The atmospheric dry deposition fluxes of PAHs in the Bosten Lake watershed ranged from 0.45 μg·(m 2 ·d) -1 to 18.10 μg·(m 2 ·d) -1 during the heating period and 0.25 μg·(m 2 ·d) -1 to 8.15 μg·(m 2 ·d) -1 during the non-heating period. During the heating period, the atmospheric dry deposition fluxes in the residential area were significantly higher than those in the regions near Bosten Lake and Tazhong. However, the atmospheric PAHs dry deposition flux in Tazhong was much higher than that in other sites during the heating and no-heating periods. In general, the atmospheric PAHs dry deposition fluxes during the heating period were significantly higher than those during the non-heating period. PAH composition for the atmosphere and dry deposition were dominated by 3 and 4 ring congeners, especially by phenanthrene, fluorine, fluoranthene, and pyrene during two sampling periods. In addition, the congener diagnostic ratio shows that coal and biomass combustion were possible sources of atmospheric PAHs in the Bosten Lake watershed. The forward and backward trajectory analysis based on the HYSPLIT model demonstrated that the higher atmospheric PAH emissions from the residential area would be transported to Bosten Lake, which can affect the aquatic environment of this lake by dry deposition.

Objective: To explore a simple method for early detection of osteoporosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), by analyzing the correlation between computed tomography (CT) values of the thoracolumbar vertebrae and dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: 86 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD were included in this study. The average age of the patients, including 57 males and 29 females, was 74±10 years. They all received chest CT and DXA examination within 1 month after admission. The relation between each CT value from 6(th) thoracic vertebrae (T6) to 1(st) lumbar (L1) and T-score measured by DXA was analyzed by linear correlation analysis with SPSS 17.0 software. Results: The mean CT value of T6-L1 was significantly lower in patients with osteoporosis than that in patients with normal bone mineral density ( P <0.05). The CT values of T6-L1 were positively correlated with T-score ( P <0.001). The ROC curve analysis of T6-L1 CT value showed that the area under ROC curve of L1 CT value was the largest, and therefore the accuracy of diagnosis of osteoporosis by L1 CT value was better.A L1 CT value lower than 100 HU was proposed as the threshold for lower bone mass or osteoporosis in the patients. Conclusion: It is possible to detect osteoporosis in patients with COPD through evaluating the CT values of T6-L1. This method could potentially reduce X-ray irradiation and expense. Early detection and intervention in patients with COPD and osteoporosis could improve the prognosis of patients.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and related factors of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFN-2a) treatment in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who achieved partial viral response with nucleoside analogue (NA) therapy., Methods: Patients with HBeAg-positive CHB and partial viral response to NA treatment were administered a PEG-IFN-2a therapy regimen of 180 g subcutaneous injection once weekly for a personlized duration of time. The existing NA therapy was continued in combination with the new PEG-IFN-2a treatment for 12 weeks. Measurements of serum HBV DNA load, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), HBeAg and hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) were taken at baseline (prior to addition of the PEG-IFN-2a therapy) and every 3 months afterwards.For determining response to treatment, primary efficacy was defined as undetectable HBsAg and seroconversion, and secondary efficacy was defined as HBsAg less than 10 IU/mL and HBeAg seroconversion.Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software., Results: A total of 81 consecutive patients with an average of 12.0 months (range: 6.0-24.0 months) of NA therapy were included in the study and received an average of 19.6 months (range: 15.5-33.3 months) of PEG-IFN-2a treatment. At the end of PEG-IFN-2a therapy, 7 (8.6%) of the patients achieved undetectable HBsAg and seroconversion, and 14 (17.3%) showed HBsAg less than 10IU/mL. In addition, 40.7% achieved undetectable HBeAg and seroconversion, a rate that was slightly higher than that (38.3%) seen in treatment-naive patients who received PEG-IFN-2a. Statistical analyses suggest that baseline level of HBsAg at less than 1500 IU/mL may predict end of PEG-IFN-2a treatment response for HBsAg less than 10 IU/mL, as evidenced by the area under the curve measure of 0.747, sensitivity measure of 87.3%, specificity measure of 33.3%, positive predictive value of 82.1% and negative predictive value of 42.8%., Conclusion: Patients with HBeAg-positive CHB and partial viral response to NA therapy can achieve undetectable HBsAg and HBeAg seroconversion after switching to PEG-IFN-2a treatment. Baseline HBsAg level may be predictive of response to this therapeutic strategy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) on the maturation and cytokine secretion of human dendritic cells (DC) induced by Candida albicans (C. albicans)., Methods: The plastic-adherent mononuclear cells were prepared from the blood of healthy adult volunteers. The human peripheral blood mononuclear cells-derived dendritic cells (MNC-DC) were induced by 5-day-culture in medium supplemented with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4, and then cultured for 2 days in presence or absence of C. albicans at varying concentration of human MBL ranging from 1 to 20 mg/L. DC's shape and characters were observed under inverted microscopy, the expression of CD83 and CD86 on DC was analyzed by FACS. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. FACS also was used to investigate the interaction of MBL with immature DC(imDC) and C. albicans. Western blot was used to detect C. albicans-induced IκBα phosphorylation and p65/NF-κB translocation in DC., Results: MBL at higher concentrations (10-20 mg/L) down-regulated the expression of CD83 and CD86 on the monocyte-derived dentritic cells(MoDC) induced by C. albicans, and inhibited the production of TNF-α and IL-6 induced by C. albicans. FACS showed that MBL could not only bind to C. albicans but also bind to imDCs in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Western blot showed that MBL could decrease the phosphorylation of IκBα and the nuclear translocation of p65/ NF-κB., Conclusion: MBL may inhibit TNF-α and IL-6 production induced by C. albicans in DC through NF-κB signaling pathways, suggesting that MBL can play some roles in the regulation of C. albicans-induced immune response.

Objective: In this study, we discussed the consistency and correlation of HBV serological indexes between neonates' venous blood and cord blood whose mothers had chronical HBV infection, as well as the correlation of thoses indexes with the mothers'., Method: Chronically HBV infected mothers who were postive of both HBsAg and HBeAg and also had a HBV DNA virus load above 10(5) copies/ ml and their infants were enrolled. The mothers' venous blood were collected before delivery. The neonates' cord blood were collected at birth after removal of contaminants and disinfected with alcohol on the cord's surface, and the venous blood were collected before hepatitis B virus immune globin(HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine were given. The levels of HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg and anti-HBeAg were tested with Abbott microparticle chemiluminescence method (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Architac i2000). HBV DNA quantification were tested by COBAS TagMan real-time PCR Assay., Results: 383 mothers and their infants were enrolled. The positive rates of HBsAg in cord blood and venous blood were 61.2% and 63.9%. The positive rates of HBeAg level in cord blood and venous blood were 83.2% and 83.5%. The positive rates of HBV DNA level in cord blood and venous blood were 56.0% and 59.4%. The state of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA in cord blood and venous blood were consistency, and significant correlation was observed in their levels with correlation coefficients of 0.766, 0.857, and 0.692, respectively (P < 0.000). Significant correlation of the HBeAg levels were observed between mothers' venous blood and neonates' venous blood, as well as neonates' cord blood with correlation coefficients of 0.362 and 0.352 (P < 0.000). However, there was no significant correlation of HBsAg levels between them (r = 0.023, P = 0.785; r = 0.04, P = 0.604)., Conclusions: The HBV serological index of neonate's cord blood could reflect the HBV serological indexes in venous blood because of the good correlation and consistency between them.

Objective: To investigate the expression and relationship of programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) and cell apoptosis in the parotid gland after leading duct ligation in rat and elucidate the role of PDCD5 on the atophy of parotid gland., Methods: The Wistar rat model of leading duct ligation was established, and the samples of parotid gland were obtained from different time point (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, 90 and 120 d). The expression of PDCD5 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)., Results: The distribution of PDCD5 protein in normal parotid was in cytoplasm with uniformity. The expression of PDCD5 protein was significantly increased and reached the peak at 3 d (1.261 ± 0.048) following main duct ligation. PDCD5 was located both in cytoplasm and nuclear of parotid gland cells. The PDCD5 density in acinar cells was higher than that in duct cells at day 1 and 3 after duct ligation (P < 0.01). The apoptotic cells were obviously upregulated at 3 d after duct ligation. The apoptosis index observed in acinar cells [(21.750 ± 0.119)%] was more than that in duct cells [(5.720 ± 0.205)%]. The difference of apoptosis index between acinar cells and duct cells was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The increased PDCD5 levels were positively correlated with cell apoptosis induced by duct ligation., Conclusions: The expression of PDCD5 is associated with the atophy of the parotid gland after rat parotid duct ligation, indicating that PDCD5 might play an important role in apoptotic pathways after parotid duct ligation.

The profiles of number concentration of ambient particles at a roadside site in Beijing were studied with different traffic conditions. A Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) was utilized to measure the number concentrations of fine and ultrafine (10-100 nm) particles in August 2008 and August 2009, which represented the normal and Olympic traffic conditions, respectively. Size distributions of particle number concentration were identified and their temporal variations were also discussed. Results indicated that with normal traffic pattern, the total number concentration of ultrafine and 10-478 nm particles were (1.15 +/- 0.49) x 10(4) cm(-3) and (1.61 +/- 0.57) x 10(4) cm(-3), respectively. While the concentrations were decreased to (0.55 +/- 0.14) x 10(4) cm(-3) and (1.21 +/- 0.24) x 10(4) cm(-3), respectively, with special traffic condition during the Beijing Olympic Games. Largest reduction of 52.2% was observed for ultrafine particles among all size ranges. With normal traffic condition, bimodal distribution was found with two peak values in number concentrations around 22.5 nm and 113.0 nm. During the Olympic period, nucleation mode particles were significantly reduced due to a series of temporal control measures on motor vehicles such as the removal of yellow-labeled vehicles from the roads and travel restrictions based on odd-even license plate numbers. As a result, the peak in particle number concentration at 22.5 nm disappeared. The temporal variation indicated that significantly higher ultrafine particle number concentrations occurred around 00 : 00-04 : 00, 11 : 00-13 : 00 and 17 : 00-20 : 00 with normal traffic situation, which primarily attributed to the contributions of diesel exhaust at night, secondary formation at noon and traffic jam in the evening, respectively. However during the Olympic period, the temporal variation pattern changed significantly. The gap in the number concentrations of ultrafine particle between these three time periods and other time periods were narrowed, which should be attributed to the reduction of traffic flow as well as the increase of fleet speed during the Olympics.

Objective: To observe the effects of Coptis Chinensis on vasoconstrictive activity of isolated thoracic aorta rings of normoxic and chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxic (CIHH) rats, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms., Methods: Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normoxic group and CIHH group: the fonnrmer were not given any special treatment; the latter were exposed to hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber simulating 5000 m altitude (PB = 404 mmHg, PO2 = 84 mmHg, 11.1% O2), 6 hours daily for 28 days. The isolated thoracic aorta rings of rats were prepared and perfused in thermostat, and the effects of Coptis on vasoconstrictive activity of aorta rings were recorded, the mechanisms were investigated simultaneouly., Results: Coptis Chinensis significantly decreased NE and KC-induced vasoconstriction of normoxic and CIHH rats' isolated aortic rings, but the inhibitive effects had no obvious discrepancy between the two groups. The contractive amplitude had no marked change after the removal of endothelium. When calculated by Logit Loglinear analysis, IC50 of NE and KCl-induced contractive amplitude in normoxic group were respectively 2.99 g/L and 6.14 g/L, while they were 3.45 g/L and 5.81 g/L in CIHH group. The inhibitive effect of Coptis on vasoconstrictive activity of both groups could be partly decreased by Glibenclamide and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; Indomethacin suppressed the effect on normoxic group as well. Also Coptis significantly inhibited NE-induced both intracellular and extracellular calciumion-depended vasoconstriction., Conclusion: Coptis Chinensis obviously relaxes isolated thoracic aorta rings of normoxic and CIHH rats, but the effects are endothelium-independent and have no marked discrepancy between the two groups. The mechanisms of the effects may be related to the opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channel, raise of nitric oxide concentration in both groups, and the increasing of PGI2 in normoxic group. Besides, Coptis may inhibit sarcoplasmic reticulum releasing Ca2+ and decrease the inflow of extracellular Ca2+ via cell membrane.

Objective: In this study, we discuss the predictive value of different content of HBsAg in different stages of neotal venous blood on failure of blocking mother to infant transmission of HBV., Methods: 150 infants born of chronically HBV infected mothers who were positive of both HBsAg and HBeAg and who also had a HBV DNA virus load above 10(5) copies/ml were enrolled. These infants were given hepatitis B virus immune globin (HBIG) 200 IU immediately after birth and were given hepatitis B vaccine 10 or 20 microg at brith, 1 month and 6 months after birth. HBV serological index of these infants were test at birth, 1 month and 7 months after birth respectively. Different content of HBsAg in different stages of neonatal venus blood were analyzed to predict the failure of blocking mother to infant transmission of HBV., Results: 11 infants failed in blocking of HBV mother to infant transmission. The positive rate of HBsAg at birth, 1 month and 7 months after birth were 41.26%, 10.49% and 7.69% respectively, and were 97.90%, 65.73% and 13.29% of HBeAg. The positive predictive value of HBsAg > or = 0.05 and HBsAg > or = 1 IU/ml at birth were 18.64% and 70% respectively, and were 73.33% and 100% one month after birth., Conclusions: Infants with HBsAg > or = 1 IU/ml at birth should be suspicious of failure on blocking HBV mother-to-infant transmission and it should be more credible if the infant has HBsAg > or = 1 IU/ml one month after birth. How to improve the blocking rate of neonates who were positive of HBsAg at birth and one month after birth should be the focus of our future research.

A new method for the determination of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) was developed by using resonance light scattering (RLS) technique via an interaction of serum albumin with lidocaine and sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (SDBS). The RLS intensity of serum albumin was enhanced in the presence of lidocaine and SDBS. The influences of some experimental factors, including incubation time, addition sequence of reagents, pH values, foreign substances and the concentrations of lidocaine and SDBS, on the enhancement of the RLS intensity were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the enhanced RLS intensities were proportional to the concentrations of serum albumin in the range of 1.0-45.0 mg x L(-1) for BSA and 0.5-30.0 mg x L(-1) for HSA. The method was successfully applied to the determination of real human serum samples, with the relative standard deviations of 4.9%-5.7% (n = 5) and standard addition recoveries of 90%-103%. The method only involves the use of conventional fluorescence spectrometer and chemical reagents. It is simple, easy to operate and sensitive with the limit of detection of 0.14 mg x L(-1). The fresh human serum samples can be directly analyzed without the need of any prior pretreatment. The method can be a good alternative of choice for the determination of BSA and HSA.

Objective: To review the clinical and genetic features of a pedigree of Kennedy disease in China., Methods: The clinical data of patients from a Kennedy disease family were collected. The numbers of trinucleotide CAG repeats in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene were determined by DNA sequencing and repeat fragment analysis., Results: In the pedigree, 4 patients were identified as Kennedy disease. Clinical manifested with adult-onset, progressive proximal limb muscle weakness and atrophy, gynecomastia, oligospermia were also presented. The number of trinucleotide CAG repeats in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene was 51 in the proband. The electrophysiological study showed sensory and motor involvement and their serum triglycerides values were elevated significantly., Conclusion: Androgen receptors gene testing is the most reliable diagnosing method, the patients suspected as Kennedy disease should have a gene testing of androgen receptors.

Aim: To construct recombinant co-expression adenovirus vector of SEA and CD80 genes regulated by mouse TERT(telomerase reverse transcriptase, TERT) promoter and to observe the expression of SEA and CD80 in the Hepa1-6 cells mediated by it., Methods: Using AdEasy adenovirus system, the core promoter region of mTERT was subcloned to shuttle plasmid pShuttle2 and Myc-Max response element was inserted upstream of it to regulate the expression of SEA and CD80. The recombinant co-expression adenovirus vector of SEA and CD80 genes was constructed and named as Ad-MMRE-mTERT-BIS. Hepatoma cell line Hepa1-6 and fibroblast cell line NIH3T3 were infected by recombinant adenovirus at MOI(multiplicity of infection)of 100, the expression of SEA and CD80 on the surface of cells was detected by indirect immunofluorescent staining., Results: SEA and CD80 was specifically co-expressed on the surface of infected Hepa1-6 cells but not on NIH3T3 cells., Conclusion: The recombinant co-expression adenovirus vector of SEA and CD80 gene regulated by mTERT promoter was sucessfully constructed and make targeting-expression of SEA and CD80 on the surface of hepatoma cells, which lays the foundation for further research on application of SEA and CD80 in targeted genetherapy for hepatoma.

The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) on contractile activities in isolated thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery rings and the underlying mechanism in rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (CON), 14 days CIHH treatment group (CIHH14), 28 days CIHH treatment group (CIHH28) and 42 days CIHH treatment group (CIHH42). CIHH rats were exposed to hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber simulating 5 000 m altitude, 6 h daily for 14, 28 and 42 d, respectively. After artery rings were prepared from pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta, the contractile activity of the artery rings was recorded using organ bath technique. Results are shown as follows. (1) There were no significant differences of noradrenaline (NA)- and KCl-induced contractions in thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery rings among CIHH and CON rats. (2) Angiotensin Ⅱ (ANGⅡ)-induced contraction in thoracic aorta rings, not in pulmonary artery rings, of CIHH rats was decreased compared with that in CON rats. There was no significant difference of ANGⅡ-induced contraction in thoracic aorta rings among CIHH rats. (3) Inhibitory effect of CIHH on ANGⅡ-induced contraction in thoracic aorta rings was endothelium-independent, and was reversed by glibenclamide (Gli), an ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) blocker, and L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, but not by indomethacin (Indo), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. These results suggest that CIHH attenuates the contraction induced by ANGⅡ in thoracic aorta rings of rat, which is related to the opening of K(ATP) channel and the increased production of NO.

Objective: HBsAg loss and seroconversion in patients with chronic hepatitis B leads to long-lasting good clinical outcomes. The aim of this paper was to investigate to improve the rate of HBsAg loss and seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients by prolonged treatment of PEG-IFNa-2a. 217 cases of HBeAg-positive or negative patients were collected from inpatient and outpatient in Beijing Ditan Hospital from May 2005 to October 2009 and subcutaneous injection of 135 ug or 180 ug PEGASYS were given once a week according to body weights. The drug doses were adjusted according to the neutrophilic granulocyte and platelet counts during treatment course. Quantitative HBV DNA test was conducted using a commercially available real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR kit. The serum HBsAg/anti-HBs and HBeAg/anti-HBe were quantitatively detected by Abbott i 2000 chemiluminescent kit before and during treatment every three months. Patients with HBsAg steadily decreased and reached serum HBsAg level below 200 IU/ml after 48 weeks of treatment would receive prolonged treatment. Patients with more than 12 weeks of treatment entered into analysis. Main efficacy of prolonged treatment was evaluated by the incidences of HBsAg loss and seroconversion., Results: The treatment courses of the 217 patients ranged from 12.0 to 197.6 weeks with an average of 53.1+/-33.4 weeks, 118 cases took more than 48 weeks and another 89 cases less than 48 weeks. 13.4% (29/217) of patients achieved HBsAg loss or HBsAg seroconversion with treatment courses from 17.6 to 197.6 weeks (average 75.4+/-42.8 weeks). Among these 29 patients 24 (82.8%) received more than 48 weeks of treatment, but the treatment courses of HBV DNA reached undetectable level were 20.8+/-8.9 weeks. In this study, 9.5% (14/148) of HBeAg-positive patients achieved HBsAg loss or seroconversion, all of them treated more than 48 weeks, from 48 to 194 weeks, average 81.32+/-39.36 weeks. 21.7% (15/69) of HBeAg-negative patients achieved HBsAg loss or seroconversion, significantly higher than that of HBeAg-positive patients (9.5%) (x2 = 6.129, P = 0.013). The average treatment course for HBeAg-negative patients with HBsAg loss was 70.2+/-48.0 weeks, shorter than that of HBeAg-positive patients with HBsAg loss (81.3+/-39.4 weeks), but no significant difference (t = -0.522, P = 0.602) found between., Conclusion: Higher rate of HBsAg loss and seroconversion could be obtained by individual extended treatment courses in patients with rapid HBV DNA and HBsAg response to PEG-IFNa-2a treatment and the HBeAg-negative patients could got higher rate of HBsAg loss than HBeAg-positive patients.

Objective: To investigate the level of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and observe relation between expression of Foxp3 and CD127 in peripheral blood of chronic HBV infection., Methods: CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ and CD4+ CD25+ CD127low Treg in peripheral blood from 34 patients of immune tolerance stage, 26 patients of immune clearance stage and 31 patients of non-active status were quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry., Results: Immune tolerance group presented a higher fraction of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ and CD4+ CD25+ CD127low Treg than non-active group in chronic HBV infection (Z = -2.693, P = 0.007 and t = 3.251, P = 0.002), and HBV positive group also presented a higher fraction than non-active group (t = 2.266, P = 0.026 and t = 3.208, P = 0.002), But ALT normal group is similar to ALT abnormal group (P > 0.05). In this study, the relation between expression of CD127low and Foxp3+ from CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells was observed, and CD4+ CD25+ CD127low Treg presented a higher fraction than CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg., Conclusion: Peripheral Treg in HBV active replication group is higher than HBV negative group of chronic HBV infection. Expression of CD127low is consistent with Foxp3+ in CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells, but the former is significantly higher than the latter.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, cranial MRI and treatment of toxic encephalopathy induced by 1, 2-dichloroethane (1, 2-DCE)., Methods: The clinical, MRI features and treatment of 5 patients with toxic encephalopathy induced by 1,2-DCE were observed and analyzed., Results: Five patients all presented with subacute onset with a history of direct exposure to 1,2-DCE. Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressures were all increased in 5 patients. All 5 patients had obvious intracranial hypertension. Liver and kidney function had no obvious abnormalities; Cranial MRI showed T1WI low signal and T2WI high signal in bilateral hemispheric white matter, cerebellar dentate nucleus and globus pallidus. After the treatment of dehydrating agent, glucocorticoid and supportive treatment, four patients were clearly improved, and one patient had cerebral hernia formation., Conclusion: The main neurological clinical features in patients with 1,2-DEC poisoning is obvious intracranial hypertension. The prognosis is usually good with early and long term use of glucocorticoids and dehydrating agent in poisoning patients.

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of delayed neuronal degeneration, activation of microglia and nuclear factor-kappa B after rat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and the possible role of iron., Methods: ICH model was induced by infusion of autologous whole blood into the right basal ganglia. To evaluate the possible role of iron on delayed neuron loss, an iron model by injection of FeCl(2) into hippocampus was also set up. Degeneration of neurons and the activation of microglia and NF-kappa B were detected., Result: Both whole blood and iron caused neuron degeneration for at least 14 days were revealed by Fluoro-jade C staining. Consistently, activated microglia and NF-kappa B positive cells were also observed in the peri-hematoma area and the ipsilateral hippocampus., Conclusion: The iron may participate in the delayed neuron injury followed ICH; the activated microglia and NF-kappa B may be involved in the process of delayed neuronal injury.

The interaction of tetrandrine with bovine serum albumin was studied by fluorescence spectra and ultra-violet spectra. The results showed that tetrandrine could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA. Both static quenching and non-radiation energy transfer were the main reasons for the fluorescence quenching. The quenching constants K(sv) at different temperatures were determined using Stern-Volmer equation. The K(sv) were 1.26 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) (300 K), 1.17 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) (310 K) and 1.12 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) (320 K). According to the Forster theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding distances (r) were 3.24 nm (300 K), 3.31 nm (310 K) and 3.50 nm (320 K). The binding constants (KA) between tetrandrine and BSA (300 K: 1.52 x 10(5) L x mol(-1); 310 K: 2.03 x 10(5) L x mol(-1); 320 K: 2.89 x 10(5) L x mol(-1)) and thermodynamic parameters were also obtained. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the interaction of tetrandrine and BSA was driven mainly by hydrophobic force. Results of synchronous fluorescence spectrum showed that the binding could cause conformational changes of BSA.

Objective: Analyzing the relationships between peripheral blood CD4+ CD25hi regulatory T (Treg) cells and peripheral blood immune status or plasma HIV-lviral load in HIV-infected individuals,so as to determine whether Treg were related to the progression of HIV-infected disease., Methods: 116 HIV-infected patients in different stages and 21 healthy control individuals were included in this study. The CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were determined by a standard 4-color flow cytometry technique. The Treg cells were examined with 3-color immune staining flow cytometry. The plasma HIV-1 viral load was detected by real time PCR., Results: The frequencies of Treg cells decreased in HIV-infected individuals with high CD4+ T cell counts( > 300/microl) compared with normal controls. With the progression of disease the frequencies of Treg cells were raised gradually, until were increased in HIV-infected individuals with low levels of CD4+ T cell counts ( < 100/microl). In addition, the frequencies of Treg cells were inversely related to CD4+ T cell counts and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio, data showed a statistically significant (respectively, r = -0.564, P < 0.001; r = -0.377, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the proportions of Treg cells were closely related to plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load (r = 0.514, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: CD4 CD25hi Treg cells should be a kind of important cells participating the immunopathogenesis of AIDS. It may play different roles in different stages of HIV-infected disease. The exact mechanism of Treg cells in the progression of the HIV-infected disease needs to be investigate further.

Aim: To investigate the effect of Honeysuckle flower (HF) and Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi (SBG) on contraction and electric activity of small intestine smooth muscle in rabbit and the underlying mechanisms., Methods: Using organ bath technique to observe the effect of HF and SBG on contractive and electric activity of small intestine smooth muscle in rabbit., Results: HF and SBG significantly decreased the amplitude, frequency and area under the curve of contractive, as well as electric activity in a dose-depended manner. IC50 of the contractive amplitude was 6.30 g/L and 1.56 g/L by Logit Loglinear analysis. The inhibitive effect of HF and SBG on contractive activity could be partly decreased by beta-receptor blocker Propranolol, NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME, and K+ channel blocker Glibenclamide. Also HF and SBG inhibited acetylcholine-induced both intracellular and extracellular calcium-depended contraction significantly., Conclusion: HF and SBG obviously inhibit the contractive and electric activity of small intestine smooth muscle of rabbit. The mechanisms are related to several pathways.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between the spatial learning and memory and hippocampal ERK1/2 pathway activity in ovariectomized rats., Methods: Female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operated group (Sham group) and ovariectomized group (OVX group), and fed 4 months. Then spatial learning and memory of rats were evaluated by the Morris water maze task. Rats in each group were randomly divided into training group and untraining group before the test. Induced activity of ERK 1/2 stimulated by learning and memory was detected in the training group, and basic activity of ERK 1/2 was detected in the untraining group. The protein expression of p-ERK 1/2 and Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) were assayed by Western blotting respectively., Results: (1) During the training session the OVX rats held longer escape latenci than the sham rats did (P < 0.05). (2) The relative level of pERK1/2 protein in training rats of the both groups was higher than that in untraining rats (P < 0.05). (3) The relative level of p-ERK1/2 protein both training and untraining rats in OVX group was lower than that in sham group correspondingly (P < 0.05). (4) Compared with sham group, the relative expression of RKIP in OVX group was significantly higher (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Spatial learning and memory deficits in ovariectomized rats might be correlated with the decreased basic and induced activity of ERK1/2 pathway and increased expression of RKIP in the CA1/CA2 region of hippocampus.

Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) is a highly conserved group of multifunctional proteins found in a variety of different species. In the same species, it is expressed in numerous tissues and cell types. PEBP plays a pivotal modulatory role in several signal transduction pathways. PEBP inhibits the MAPK pathway through interacting with Raf-1, so it's also known as Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP). PEBP is involved in the regulation of PKC, G-protein-coupled receptor and NF-kappaB signaling pathway as well. In clinical researches, it was found that as the precursor of hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide (HCNP), PEBP has an important effect on the development of Alzheimer's disease. Recent evidence imply that PEBP function as a metastasis suppressor gene because it can suppress metastasis and promote apoptosis in tumor cells. In colorectal cancer, high methylation of the promoter region of PEBP gene results in the non-expression of PEBP, that maybe the molecular basis of tumor metastasis. The latest studies demonstrate that PEBP regulates the spindle checkpoint in cell cycle and loss of PEBP can leads to chromosomal abnormalities.

Objective: Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by formation of benign cartilage-capped tumors (exostoses), typically located at the juxtaepiphyseal regions of long bones. It is genetically heterogeneous with at least three chromosomal loci: EXT1 on 8q24.1, EXT2 on 11p11, and EXT3 on 19p. EXT1 and EXT2 have been cloned and are responsible for over 80% of cases. A Chinese family with HME has been analyzed in the present study., Methods: Linkage analysis was firstly performed to determine which of the three EXT genes could be the candidate gene, then mutation screening by PCR and direct sequencing was carried out., Results: A novel nonsense mutation (c.1006C>T) in exon 6 of EXT2, which converts the codon CAA (Gln) to the stop codon (TAA) (Gln336X), was identified. Next, prenatal diagnosis was performed and the pregnancy was determined to be normal., Conclusion: A new EXT2 nonsense mutation was found in a Chinese family with hereditary multipe exostoses. The information was used for a case of prenatal diagnosis.

The interaction of genistein and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence quenching spectra, synchronous fluorescence spectra and ultra-violet absorption spectra. The results showed that the quenching mechanism of the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA by genistein is due to the formation of genistein-HSA complex, resulting in a static quenching procedure. The binding constants (KA) were 1.00 x 10(6) (27 degrees C), 1.66 x 10(6) (37 degrees C) and 5.25 x 10(6) (47 degrees C), respectively. According to the Förster theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding distances (r) were 2.59 nm (27 degrees C), 2.65 nm (37 degrees C) and 2.90 nm (47 degrees C), respectively. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the binding power between genistein and HSA is mainly the electrostatic interaction Synchronous spectrum was used to investigate the conformational change of HSA.

Mitochondria are essential organelles that generate cellular energy in cells. Mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been identified in various types of cancer, suggesting a complex relationship between mtDNA and cancer. This review focuses on the possible correlation between the mtDNA mutation and cancer. Additionally, possible causes for mtDNA mutations and applications for detecting mtDNA mutations in cancer are discussed.

The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression profiles of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4 treated with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) by using cDNA microarray. cDNA probes were prepared through reverse transcription from mRNA of NB4 cells treated with or without arsenic trioxide. The probes were labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescence dyes individually, hybridized with cDNA microarray representing 201 different human genes, and their fluorescent intensities were scanned. The genes were screened through the analysis of the difference in the gene expression profile. The results showed that after the treatment of arsenic trioxide (2 micromol/L), 6 genes were up-regulated, and 12 genes related to apoptosis and signal transduction were down-regulated. The p21, survivin, cdc2 and Wee1Hu genes may be related to the differentiation and/or apoptosis of NB4 cells induced by As2O3. It is concluded that p21, survivin, cdc2 and Wee1Hu may play an important role in the mechanism underling arsenic trioxide-mediated NB4 cell apoptosis.

The interaction of Nimodipine and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied using fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) and ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV). The apparent binding constants (KA) between Nimodipine and BSA were 5.01 x 10(4) (26 degrees C) and 4.46 x 10(4) (36 degrees C), and the binding sites (n) were 1.08 +/- 0.01. According to the Förster theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding distances (r) were also obtained. The experimental results showed that Nimodipine could quench the inner fluorescence of BSA by forming the Nimodipine-BSA complex. It was found that both static quenching and non-radiation energy transfer led to the fluorescence quenching. The process of binding was a spontaneous molecular interaction in which entropy increased while Gibbs free energy decreased. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the interaction of Nimodipoine and BSA was driven mainly by static electrical force.

Objective: To investigate the regulation of tissue factor (TF) on doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma., Method: The expression of TF was examined by Western blotting. TF siRNA-pSUPER plasmid was constructed by inserting a specific 19-nt silencing sequence targeting TF gene into pSUPER vector. Transfection of TF siRNA-pSUPER was performed using lipofectamine 2000. The activation of caspase-3 and PARP induced by doxorubicin was tested by Western blotting. The apoptotic cells were stained by Hochest 33342 and counted under fluorescence inverted microscope., Results: (1) Human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC expressed high level of TF. (2) Downregulation of TF expression was achieved by transfection of TF siRNA-pSUPER into SK-N-MC cells in a dose-dependent manner. (3) Cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP was increased in transfected SK-N-MC cell with down-regulation of TF. (4) TF siRNA treatment at 1 microg/ml for 8 h significantly increased apoptotic cell number in transfected SK-N-MC cells compared to that in non-transfected cells (P < 0.05) while exposing to 1 microg/ml doxorubicin for 8 h., Conclusions: Downregulation of TF expression by specific siRNA vector could increase the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and enhance doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.

Objective: To compare clinical therapeutic effects of combined ear point blood-letting therapy, oral administration of medicine and external application of medicine on acne vulgaris., Methods: The patients of acne vulgaris were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group were treated with ear point blood-letting combined with cupping at Back-shu points; and the control group with oral administration of Tetracycline and external application of Cuochuangping Ointment., Results: After treatment of 1approximately 3 courses, the cured rate (50.0%) and the total effective rate (92.9%) in the treatment group were significantly higher than 17.6% and 76.5% in the control group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01); a half year later, the recurrence rate or the deteriorative rate in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01)., Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of ear point blood-letting combined with cupping at Back-shu points is significantly better than that of oral administration of Tetracycline and external application of Cuochuangping Ointment.

Mutation of GJB1 gene was investigated in two families with X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Genomic DNA from venous blood samples was prepared. The coding sequence of the GJB1 gene was amplified from genomic DNA. PCR products were analyzed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) method. The PCR product having an abnormal pattern was sequenced to detect the mutation. It was found that the samples of all patients and one little girl with normal phenotype showed an abnormal SSCP band, but not detected in the other unaffected members in the first large family. In the second small family, an abnormal SSCP band was found in all the patients, but not detected in the unaffected member. The result of DNA sequencing demonstrated that both families had a same mutation of 622G-->A, which resulted in a substitution of Glu208Lys. This mutation has not been reported previously in China.

Objective: To explore the role of PTEN gene in the regulation of tissue factor (TF) expression in human neuroblastoma cells., Methods: Expression of PTEN or TF was determined by Western blotting. Transcription of TF was examined by RT-PCR. PTEN gene expressing vector pCMV-PTEN was transfected with Lipofectamine2000. Phosphorylation of AKT was inhibited by LY294002 and then examined by Western blotting., Results: Human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH was PTEN-positive and expressed low level TF, whereas an other neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC was PTEN-negative but expressed high level TF. TF level was downregulated in SK-N-MC cells by enforced expression of PTEN in a dose dependent manner. Inhibition of TF was achieved along with inactivation of AKT. Furthermore treatment with PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 also resulted in decrease of TF expression in a dose-dependent manner., Conclusion: Expression of TF is inhibited by PTEN gene via inactivating PI3K/AKT pathway, loss of PTEN might be the explanation of aberrant high-level TF in human neuroblastoma. It may be at least one of the mechanisms by which loss of PTEN expression confers to cancer progression.

This study was aimed to investigate the expression and regulation mechanism of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalylic subunit (DNA-PKcs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and its role in blast crisis of CML. Expression of DNA-PKcs mRNA was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and DNA-PKcs protein by Western blot in 62 CML patients and K562, as compared to those of 23 normal individual controls. In 26 CML patients received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) and 4 CML patients treated with imatinib, the expression of bcr-abl mRNA and DNA-PKcs protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. After treatment with imatinib in mononuclear cell (MNC) of CML patients and K562 in vitro, expression of DNA-PKcs mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and DNA-PKcs protein level, tyrosine phosphorylation of bcr-abl fusion protein were detected by Western blot. The results showed that the expression of DNA-PKcs protein was significantly lower in CML and K562 than those in normal control (P<0.05). In 26 CML patients received allo-PBSCT and 4 CML patients treated with imatinib, the expression of DNA-PKcs protein was enhanced while the expression of bcr-abl mRNA decreased. After treatment of MNC of CML and K562 with imatinib in vitro, the expression of DNA-PKcs protein was enhanced while tyrosine phosphorylation of bcr-abl fusion protein decreased. It is concluded that the expression of DNA-PKcs protein is down-regulate by bcr-abl fusion gene, and the bcr-abl fusion gene down-regulate the expression of DNA-PKcs protein by post-transcriptional mechanism; the decrease of DNA-PKcs protein expression may be one of mechanisms underlying the acute transformation of CML.

To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the mRNA and protein expression of tissue factor (TF) and thrombomodulin (TM) and procoagulant activity (PCA) in NB4 cells. The NB4 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with As(2)O(3) or ATRA, expression of TF and TM antigen, and PCA change of treated NB4 cells were detected with ELISA, TF and TM mRNA transcription on the NB4 cells was assayed with reversed transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that 1 micromol/L As(2)O(3) and 1 micromol/L ATRA both gradually downregulated the expression of TF antigen and mRNA on NB4 cells, a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, in time-dependent manner, as compared with control. The levels of TF antigen expression in AS(2)O(3) group were 13.3 +/- 1.8, 8.6 +/- 1.9, 10.8 +/- 1.5, 2.0 +/- 0.6 and 2.6 +/- 0.9 ng/10(7) respectively; while the levels of TF antigen expression in ATRA group were 12.4 +/- 1.1, 11.3 +/- 1.8, 5.7 +/- 1.7, 2.8 +/- 0.8 and 2.0 +/- 0.6 ng/10(7) at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours respectively (P<0.05). The procoagulant activity (PCA) of NB4 cells was decreased, blood coagulation times were 123.5 +/- 10.5, 156.3 +/- 11.6, 179.3 +/- 15.3, 248.9 +/- 20.1, 312.0 +/- 29.8 seconds in As(2)O(3) groups, respectively; 76.4 +/- 5.6, 146.8 +/- 10.9, 198.2 +/- 15.6, 265.8 +/- 20.6 and 363.8 +/- 31.9 seconds in ATRA groups respectively at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours (P<0.05). ATRA upregulated TM antigen expression on NB4 cells. It is concluded that the As(2)O(3) and ATRA decrease mRNA transcription of TF, downregulate expression of TF and reduce procoagulant activity in NB4 cells. The TM transcription and expression upregulated by ATRA may alleviate dysfunction of coagulation in APL.

The interaction between brucine and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) and ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV). The experimental results showed that the brucine quenches the inner fluorescence by forming a brucine-BSA complex. It was found that both static quenching and non-radiation energy transfer were the main reasons for the fluorescence quenching. The apparent binding constants (K(A)) between brucine and BSA were 6. 3 x 10(3) (27 degrees C) and 7.7 x 10(3) (37 degrees C), and the binding sites (n) were 0.94 (27 degrees C) and 0.97 (37 degrees C). According to the Förster theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding distances (r) were also obtained. The process of binding was a spontaneous molecular interaction in which entropy increased and Gibbs free energy decreased, indicating that the interaction between brucine and BSA was driven mainly by hydrophobic force.

Objective: To investigate the effects of mangiferin on telomerase activity and apoptosis in K562 cells lines and study the melocular mechanism of it's antileukemic., Methods: Cell apoptosis was observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy; The expression of Fas was measured by flow cytometry; Polymerase chain reaction enzyme linked immunoassay (PCR-ELISA) was used to assay telomerase activity of K562 cells., Results: Mangiferin could inhibit telomerase activity of K562 cells in a time-and-concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, it could induce apoptosis obviously and up-regulate the levels of Fas in K562 cells., Conclusion: Mangiferin can inhibit telomerase activity of K562 cells, and the mechanism of effect is maybe relate to inducing apoptosis and the expression of Fas protein.