Emodin attenuates acute lung injury in Cecal-ligation and puncture rats

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major cause of sepsis-induced acute respiratory failure. Emodin has been considered to play a protective role for acute lung edema in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model. In this study we aimed to investigate whether emodin could improve CLP-induced lung sepsis via regulating aquaporin (AQP) and tight junction (TJ), inflammatory factors, and pulmonary apoptosis. The results showed that sepsis-induced pulmonary pathological changes were significantly improved after emodin treatment. Emodin was found to upregulate AQP and TJ expression in the CLP model. Meanwhile, inflammatory cytokine release and pulmonary apoptosis was remarkably reduced after emodin treatment in lung sepsis. Our data demonstrated that emodin could suppresse inflammation, restore pulmonary epithelial barrier and reduce mortality in CLP-induced ALI, suggesting the potential therapeutic application of emodin in sepsis.     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

The effects of grass pollen allergoid immunotherapy on clinical and immunological parameters in children with allergic rhinitis

Allergoid immunotherapy is a new form of allergen immunotherapy allowing safe administration of high allergen doses. There is limited information on the effects of allergoid immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis. To investigate the immunological and clinical effects of allergoid immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis due to grass pollen allergy. Children with allergic rhinitis were assigned to allergoid immunotherapy (n = 27) or control (n = 26, no immunotherapy) groups. Children in the immunotherapy group received seven injections of grass pollen allergoid immunotherapy before grass pollen season and continued to receive maintenance immunotherapy for 27 months. All patients were offered a pharmacotherapy regimen to be used on demand during the pollen seasons. Clinical and laboratory parameters were compared between the immunotherapy and control groups. The rhinoconjunctivitis symptom-medication score and asthma symptom score were lower in the immunotherapy group after 1 yr of maintenance immunotherapy (p < 0.01 for both). Skin test reactivity and nasal reactivity as determined by nasal provocation testing for grass pollen were significantly decreased after 1 yr of immunotherapy (p < 0.001 for both). The seasonal increase in bronchial reactivity and nasal lavage eosinophil cationic protein levels were prevented after the first year of immunotherapy (p < 0.05 for both). The seasonal increase in immunoglobulin (Ig)E decreased (p < 0.05) and grass-specific IgG, IgG(1) and IgG(4) increased significantly already at the end of the seven-injection build-up therapy (p < 0.001, for all). Interleukin (IL)-4 levels in the culture supernatants showed a steady decline from baseline at first and second year of immunotherapy (p < 0.001) but remained unchanged in the control group. Allergoid immunotherapy is an effective method in the treatment of grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in children and prevents the seasonal increase in bronchial hyper-reactivity. Changes in specific IgE and IgG levels and decreased IL-4 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture supernatants may account for the observed clinical effects.     

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN VIDEO CAPSULE ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS AND CLINICAL ACTIVITY IN CROHN’S DISEASE

Background and Aims: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has become increasingly important as a simple method for observing the entire small intestine. The indications for VCE are obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and investigation of Crohn’s disease (CD). However, the correlation between endoscopic findings obtained by VCE and clinical findings in known cases of CD is not clear, and we therefore investigated this in the present study. Patients and methods: In 30 patients with known CD (Crohn’s disease activity index [CDAI] 0–420; median = 158.3), double contrast enteroclysis (ENT) was performed 1–3 weeks prior to VCE. The relationship between the VCE findings and hematological analysis/CDAI was examined. Results: In 17 of 30 patients, the entire small intestine could be investigated by VCE, whereas in the remaining 13 patients the terminal ileum could not be investigated. The following exhibited positive correlations: total lesions and CDAI (correlation coefficient values: r_s = 0.661, adjusted P < 0.0061), ulcers and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (r_s = 0.607, adjusted P < 0.0061), total lesions and CRP (r_s = 0.604, adjusted P < 0.0061). Conclusions: Analysis with VCE suggests that CDAI and CRP indicate the activity of intestinal lesions in patients with known CD, and that CRP, in particular, is associated with the activity of ulcerative lesions of the intestine. This may contribute to revised guidelines for VCE in the future.     

谷氨酰胺转移酶对大豆分离蛋白成膜性能的影响

研究了谷氨酰胺转移酶（TGase）对大豆蛋白膜特性的影响。研究表明：在成膜溶液中加入TGase（4U／g）可以使膜的抗拉强度增加16．79，6，表面疏水性增加39．2％，同时也明显降低了膜的断裂伸长率、水分含量、总可溶性物质量及透光率，但是对水蒸气转移速率几无影响。扫描电镜（SEM）显示，酶法交联膜的表面比对照膜略为粗糙，断面却更为均匀致密。SDS-PAGE分析表明，TGase催化SPI产生了共价交联。     

单侧液压脑损伤对大鼠双侧海马GFAP表达和CA1区突触传递的影响

目的研究单侧液压脑损伤(FPI)对大鼠双侧海马区胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)表达和CA1区突触传递的影响。方法建立大鼠单侧液压脑损伤模型,脑标本分为对照组(包括正常对照和假手术对照)、FPI损伤同侧组和FPI损伤对侧组。免疫组化法检测海马水平切片GFAP表达,对海马CA1区锥体神经元进行细胞内记录。结果FPI大鼠双侧海马齿状回门区和CA1区GFAP表达均比对照组明显增强。FPI损伤同侧组兴奋性输入-输出关系曲线的斜率比其他两组显著增大(P<0.05);FPI损伤同侧组和对侧组双脉冲易化(PPF)比值和抑制性突触后电位(IPSP)幅值均比对照组显著减小(P<0.05);FPI损伤同侧组和对侧组双脉冲抑制(PPD)比值均比对照组显著增大(P<0.05)。结论大鼠单侧液压脑损伤对双侧海马均可产生影响,导致双侧海马CA1区兴奋性突触传递增强,抑制性突触传递减弱。     

卒中后抑郁患者的交感神经皮肤反应与事件相关电位对照研究

目的探讨交感神经皮肤反应(SSR)与事件相关电位(ERP)对卒中后抑郁患者的诊断价值。方法对55例卒中后抑郁患者和52例正常健康者分别进行了SSR和ERP测定,并将结果加以比较。结果卒中后抑郁组中SSR和ERP测定中的P300成分异常率分别为87.3%(48/55)和83.6%(46/55),两者异常吻合率为76.4%(42/55)。卒中后抑郁组SSR测定结果中,SSR潜伏期和波幅值较对照组延长和降低,其差异具有显著性(P<0.01),ERP测定中N2、P3波潜伏期和P3波幅较对照组分别延长和降低,存在显著性差异(P<0.01)。其中N2、P3波潜伏期与SSR测定中潜伏期以及波幅与波幅之间呈正相关(r=0.29~0.36,P<0.01),而两者潜伏期与波幅之间呈负相关(r=-0.32~-0.33,P<0.01)。结论交感神经皮肤反应和事件相关电位测定可作为卒中后抑郁患者的诊断指标应用于临床。     

骨形成蛋白2基因修饰的老年大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞成骨分化能力的研究

目的观察年龄因素对骨髓间充质干细胞(marrow mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs)成骨分化能力的影响;了解基因治疗对老年大鼠MSCs成骨分化能力的影响. 方法 1月龄(幼年组)、9月龄(成年组)及24月龄(老年组)雄性Wistar大鼠各6只,取MSCs经体外分离、培养及携带骨形成蛋白2(bone morphogenetic protein 2,BMP-2)基因的腺病毒载体(Ad-BMP-2)转染后,定量检测BMP-2、碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphate,ALP)表达,以及成骨细胞标志性蛋白:Ⅰ型胶原、骨涎蛋白(bone sialoprotein,BSP)和骨桥素(osteopontin, OPN)的表达.将转染的各组MSCs分别与磷酸三钙(tricalcium phosphate, TCP)复合后植入裸鼠体内,3周后取材,比较各组诱导异位成骨能力. 结果 ELISA检测表明BMP-2基因修饰的MSCs可以有效表达BMP-2,且表达量在各年龄组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);各组ALP于诱导后第9天达高峰,但组间差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05);诱导后第7天,RT-PCR半定量检测示各组均有成骨细胞特征性蛋白,即:Ⅰ型胶原、OPN及BSP的明显表达,表达量在各组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);BMP-2基因转染的MSCs与TCP复合后可诱导裸鼠体内异位成骨,各组成骨量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05). 结论 BMP-2基因修饰的老年大鼠MSCs可以恢复成骨分化能力,基因治疗可能为老年性骨骼疾病提供一种新的治疗途径.     

腹腔镜和开腹结直肠手术的炎性反应比较

目的对比分析腹腔镜和开腹结直肠手术患者全身和腹腔炎性反应的差异,为腹腔镜手术对结直肠肿瘤中的应用提供理论依据。方法对51例2004年4-8月间收治的乙状结肠和直肠恶性肿瘤患者,采用腹腔镜辅助手术25例(LAP组),开腹手术26例(OPEN组)。术毕骶前留置引流管。观察并比较两组患者的一般情况和炎性反应及与手术相关的各项指标。结果两组患者在年龄、性别、ASA分级、术前血红蛋白及白蛋白水平、肿瘤Dukes分期和手术方式差异均无统计学意义(P＞0．05)。在切口长度、手术时间、肠道功能恢复时间、住院时间的比较中,LAP组占有明显优势(P＜0．05)。腹腔引流量在术后第1天,两组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0．05)；而术后2-4 d,LAP组明显低于OPEN组(P＜0．05)。LAP组术后第1天,周围血中性粒细胞[(7．30±2．62)×10~9/L]、白介素(IL)-10[(19．46±3．31)pg/ml]和C反应蛋白(CRP)[(2．76±2．17)mg/dl]水平均显著低于OPEN组(P＜0．05)。术后第4天两组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0．05)。术后第1天,两组腹腔引流液的IL-10、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)及CRP水平差异无统计学意义(P＞0．05),术后第4天LAP组IL-10 [(22．53±15．47)pg/ml]明显低于OPEN组(P＜0．05)。结论术后早期,腹腔镜结直肠手术的腹腔炎性反应与开腹手术相当,而全身炎性反应较开腹手术轻。腹腔镜结直肠手术临床上体现出恢复快、并发症少、住院天数少的优势。     

hs-CRP、TAS联合血脂检测在早老性痴呆症诊断中的应用研究

[目的]研究超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、总抗氧化状态（TAS）联合血脂检测在早老性痴呆症诊断中的应用价值：[方法]选择浦东新区精神卫生中心早老性痴呆专科门诊患者54例，作超敏C反应蛋白、总抗氧化状态与血脂检测。[结果]与对照组比较，实验组hs-CRP、TAS差异非常显著，t1=4．55，t2=2．79，P1〈0．001，P2〈0．01；血脂中甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白B、Lp（a）差异显著；t1=3.01，P1〈0．01，t2=2．21，P2〈0．05，t3=2．64，P3〈0．01，t4=1．91，P4〈0．05。[结论]超敏C反应蛋白、总抗氧化状态联合血脂（甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白B、Lp（a））检测对实验室诊断早老性痴呆症具有较好敏感性和特异性，临床应用前景乐观。