Changes in T .lymphocyte subsets after severe traumatic brain inJury

BACKGROUND： Besides local changes of cranial parenchymal cells, hemorrhage, etc., severe traumatic brain injuries also cause the changes of total body fluid and various functions, and the changes of lymphocytes and T lymphocyte subsets should be paid more attention to. OBJECTIVE： To reveal the changing laws of T lymphocyte subsets after severe traumatic brain injury, and compare with mild to moderate brain injury. DESIGN： A comparative observation. SETTINGS： Department of Neurosurgery, Longgang District Buji People＇s Hospital of Shenzhen City; Central Laboratory of Shenzhen Hospital of Prevention and Cure for Chronic Disease. PARTICIPANTS： All the subjects were selected from the Department of Neurosurgery, Longgang District Buji People＇s Hospital of Shenzhen City from August 2002 to August 2005. Thirty patients with severe brain injury, whose Glasgow coma score （GCS） was ≤ 8 points, were taken as the experimental group, including 21 males and 9 females, aging 16 - 62 years. Meanwhile, 30 patients with mild traumatic brain injury were taken as the control group （GCS ranged 14- 15 points）, including 18 males and 12 females, aging 15 -58 years. All the subjects were in admission at 6 hours after injury, without disease of major organs before injury Informed consents were obtained from all the patients or their relatives. METHODS： （1） The T lymphocytes and the subsets in peripheral blood were detected with immunofluorescent tricolor flow cytometry at l, 3, 7 and 14 days after injury in both groups. （2） The conditions of pulmonary infections were observed at 4 days after injury. The differences of measurement data were compared with the t test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Changes of T lymphocytes subsets at 1 - 14 days after severe and mild or moderate traumatic injury. RESULTS： Finally, 28 and 25 patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury, whereas 25 and 21 patients with severe traumatic brain injury were analyzed at 7 and 14 days respectively, and the missed ones died due to the development of disease. （1） Changes of T lymphocyte subsets： At 1 and 3 days after injury, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 began to decrease, whereas CD8 increased in the experimental group, which were very significantly different from those in the control group （t =2.77 - 3.26, P 〈 0.01）, and began to recover at 7 days, which were significantly different from those in the control group （t = 2.06 - 2.24, P 〈 0.05）, and generally recovered to the normal levels at 14 days （P 〉 0.05）. （2） Conditions of pulmonary infections： At 4 days after injury, the rate of pulmonary infection was significantly different between the experimental group and control group [73% （22/30）, 0, x2=37.29, P 〈 0.01]. CONCLUSION： Patients with severe traumatic brain injury suffer from damages of cellular immune function at early period （within 7 days）, and they are easily to be accompanied by pulmonary infections.     

Establishment and application of experimental model of human fetal hepatocytes: protective effects of silybin and polyporus umbelalus polysaccharides on human fetal hepatocytes

Ｅｓｔａｂｌｉｓｈｍｅｎｔａｎｄａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎｏｆｅｘｐｅｒｉｍｅｎｔａｌｍｏｄｅｌｏｆｈｕｍａｎｆｅｔａｌｈｅｐａｔｏｃｙｔｅｓ：ｐｒｏｔｅｃｔｉｖｅｅｆｆｅｃｔｓｏｆｓｉｌｙｂｉｎａｎｄｐｏｌｙｐｏｒｕｓｕｍｂｅｌａｌｕｓｐｏｌｙｓａｃ...     

A Study on Extension－Flexion Dynamic Lumbar Spine Radiographsin Patients with Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation

ＡＳｔｕｄｙｏｎＥｘｔｅｎｓｉｏｎ－ＦｌｅｘｉｏｎＤｙｎａｍｉｃＬｕｍｂａｒＳｐｉｎｅＲａｄｉｏｇｒａｐｈｓｉｎＰａｔｉｅｎｔｓｗｉｔｈＬｕｍｂａｒＩｎｔｅｒｖｅｒｔｅｂｒａｌＤｉｓｃＨｅｒｎｉａｔｉｏｎＡＳｔｕｄｙｏｎＥｘｔｅｎｓｉｏｎ－Ｆｌｅｘｉ...     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE ACTION OF MALE HOR MONE ON HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN-CHOLESTEROL

Plasma testosterone and estradiol are determined in 72 patients with abnormal high density lipoprotein. cholesterol (HDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol/total cholesterol (H/T) ratio values, and in 72 randomly chosen males with normal HDLC and H/T values. The results showed that plasma testosterone levels in the groups with abnormal HDL-C and H/T were obviously lower than those in the controls. Statistically significant differences were found in all the abnormal groups in comparison with the controls (P0.20). Testosterone levels lowered further with increasing age in the groups with abnormal HDL-C and H/T., the most obvious drops were in the groups around 56 years of age (P<0.005). The data indicate that male hormone deficiency may reduce HDL-C and H.'T and facilitate the process of atherosclero_is. Therefore, it seems rational to treat such patients with male sex hormone preparations or to use the traditional Chinese medicines which strengthen Yang (maleness) in a new attempt to treat and prevent CHD.     

The Effects of Astragalus membranaceus and Tripterygium hypoglaucum on NK Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

ＴｈｅＥｆｆｅｃｔｓｏｆＡｓｔｒａｇａｌｕｓｍｅｍｂｒａｎａｃｅｕｓａｎｄＴｒｉｐｔｅｒｙｇｉｕｍｈｙｐｏｇｌａｕｃｕｍｏｎＮＫＡｃｔｉｖｉｔｙｉｎＳｙｓｔｅｍｉｃＬｕｐｕｓＥｒｙｔｈｅｍａｔｏｓｕｓＺｈａｏＸｉａｏ－ｚｈｏｎｇ（赵小忠）（Ｄｅｐａｒ...     

Clinical pathologic study on effect of Qianggan capsule in treating patients of chronic hepatitis B with liver cirrhosis

Objective  

To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of Qianggan Capsule (QGC) in treating chronic hepatitis B with liver fibrosis from the pathological aspect.     

In vitro differentiation of human adipose-derived adult stromal cells into neuron-like cells in hippocampal astrocyte conditioned medium

BACKGROUND: At present, researches on differentiating from human adipose-derived adult stromal cells (hADASC) to neuron-like cells are focus on inducing by artificial-synthetic compound solution; however, hippocampal astrocyte conditioned medium (HCAM) can induce in vitro differentiation from hADASC to neuron-like cells is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To observe whether HCAM can induce in vitro differentiation from hADASC to neuron-like cells. DESIGN: Randomized control study. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Taixing People's Hospital; Central Laboratory, North China Coal Medical College. MATERIALS: Donor of adipose tissue was donated by female volunteers suffering from caesarean section in the department of obstetrics & gynecology in our hospital and aged 20－35 years. Adipose tissue was collected from subcutaneous tissue of abdomen during the operation. In addition, 8 male newborn Wistar rats within 24 hours with average body mass of 20 g were provided by Animal Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Rabbit-anti-human Nestin polyclonal antibody, rabbit-anti-human glial fibriliary acidic protein (GFAP) polyclonal antibody, rabbit-anti-human neuro-specific enolase polyclonal antibody and mouse-anti-human microtubal associated protein 2 (MAP-2) polyclonal antibody were provided by Wuhan Boster Company. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Central Laboratory of North China Coal Medical College from October 2004 to June 2005. hADASC was cultured with HCAM and its growth and morphological changes were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope. Immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expressions of Nestin, which was a specific sign of nerve precursor, neuro-specific enolase and MAP-2, which was a specific sign of nerve cell, and GFAP, which was a specific sign of neuroglial cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nestin, which was a specific sign of nerve precursor, neuro-specific enolase and MAP-2, which was a specific sign of nerve cell, and GFAP, which was a specific sign of neuroglial cells. RESULTS: On the 3rd day of culture, partial hADASC started deformation from slender shuttle-shape cells to neuron-like cells. It suggested that cells stretched out apophysis, which were mainly double-pole or multiple-pole cells. Five days later, immunohistochemical detection suggested that expression of Nestin (10.5±0.037) was found out in cells; meanwhile, expressions of GFAP (38.4±0.052) and neuro-specific enolase (NSE) (15.7±0.023) were also found out in cells; however, expression of MAP-2 was not observed. Western blot indicated that, 5 days after effect of HCAM, Nestin was found out in hADASC; meanwhile, expressions of GFAP and neuro-specific enolase were also found out; however, expression of MAP-2 was not observed. CONCLUSION: HCAM can induce the differentiation from hADASC to neuron-like cells in vitro.     

THE ROLE OF P_1-PURINERGIC RECEPTORS IN THE SPINAL MECHANISMS OF ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA

It has been extensively proved that electro-acupuncture elicit analgesia in bothextensive areas and local region via supraspinal structures and spinal cord.The present investigationwas to study the role of P_1-purinergic receptors in the spinal mechanisms of weak electroacupuncture-induced analgesia.Leg withdrawal latency(LWL)to noxious radiant heat focused on the ankle regionwas used to assess the effects of acupuncture and that of P_1-purinergic(adenosine)receptor antago-nists,theophylline and caffeine on the electro-acupuncture(EA)analgesia.EA prolonged the LWLby 16.7%±20.3%,with an after-effect lasting about 15 min.Both theophylline and caffeineblocked the EA-induced prolongation of LWL in a dose-dependent manner at the doses of 1.6-16 mg/kg.These results suggest that P_1-purinegic receptor is involved in the spinal mechanisms of weak EAproduced analgesia in the rat.     

Sympathetic skin response in patients with myasthenia gravis★ A comparative analysis

BACKGROUND: The examination of sympathetic skin response is an important index for assessing the autonomic nerve function, and patients with myasthenia gravis are always accompanied by dysautonomia. Therefore, it will be important to know whether sympathetic skin response can be used as the index for the clinical evaluation of myasthenia gravis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of sympathetic skin response in the damage of autonomic nerve function of patients with myasthenia gravis. DESIGN: A case-controlled comparative observation. SETTING: Department of Neurology and Room of Nerve Electromyogram, the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty outpatients or inpatients with myasthenia gravis were selected from the Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from May 2006 to May 2007, including 9 males and 21 females, aged 8–72 years with a mean age of (28±5) years old. They were all accorded with the diagnostic standards of myasthenia gravis, accompanied by different severity of autonomic nerve symptoms, including poor skin nutrition, sweating of hands and feet, pyknocardia, persistent hypotension, abdominal pain, constipation, etc. They all had not taken any drug affecting the autonomic nerve function before the examination. Informed consents were obtained from all the patients. Meanwhile, 30 healthy physical examinees were enrolled as the normal control group, including 10 males and 20 females, aged 10–75 years with a mean age of (31±5) years old. Approval was obtained from the hospital ethic committee. METHODS: After admission, the patients were examined with sympathetic skin response using DANTEC keypoint 2.0 electromyography evoked potential apparatus (Danmark). The changes of the latency and wave amplitude of sympathetic skin response were observed. The subjects in the normal control group were examined with the same methods at physical examination. Abnormality was judged by the disappearance of wave form, latency longer than that in the normal control group by Mean±2.5SD, or wave amplitude lower than the average value in the normal control group by 50%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results of the latency and wave amplitude of sympathetic skin response were compared between the patients with myasthenia gravis and normal controls. RESULTS: All the 30 patients with myasthenia gravis and 30 healthy physical examinees were involved in the final analysis of results. There were no significant differences between the left and right upper and lower limbs in both the myasthenia gravis group and normal control group (P > 0.05). In the myasthenia gravis group, the abnormal rate of sympathetic skin response was 37% (11/30), the latency was prolonged and the wave amplitude was decreased as compared with those in the normal control group, and there were significant differences (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Sympathetic skin response can be used as an electrophysiological index for judging the damages of autonomic nerve function in patients with myasthenia gravis.     

Long-term application of diethylstilbestrol upregulates expressions of μ- and m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe of female Wistar rats

BACKGROUND: During formation of prolactin neoplasia, how cells and its structure in adenohypophysis affect prolactin cells should be further studied. Intermediate lobe can be regarded as a driving region to release prolactin (PRL) and may promote formation of prolactin neoplasia in pituitary anterior lobe. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on the expressions of μ and m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe of female Wistar rats. DESIGN: Observational contrast animal study. SETTING: Beijing Neurosurgical Institute. MATERIALS: A total of 21 female Wistar rats, 3 weeks old weighing 70–80 g were housed with free access to tap water and standard pellet food. They were kept in a CL-grade condition, at (24±1)℃ and a humidity of (55±5)%, and with a 12 hours day-night cycle. Caprine anti-μ- and m-calpains antibodies were provided by Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA, USA; rabbit-anti-PRL antibodies by Dako, Denmark; rabbit-anti-ACTH antibody by Boster Company, Wuhan. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in Pathophysiological Department and Animal Laboratory, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute from August 2006 to January 2007. ① Rats were randomly divided into groups with 7 in each group, including vehicle control group, in which rats were injected intraperitoneally with sun-flower seed oil (1 mL/kg, twice a week) for 16 weeks; DES group, where animals were administered with DES (5 mg/kg, twice a week) for 16 weeks; DES + vehicle control group, in which DES was administered for 12 weeks at the same dose with those in DES group, and then was discontinued and replaced by sun-flower seed oil (1 mL/kg, twice a week) for the following 4 weeks. ② At 16 weeks later, pituitary tissue was dealt with HE staining and PRL immunohistochemical examination to observe evoke of tumor; meanwhile, immunohistochemical examination was used to observe expression of PRL of pituitary anterior lobe, expressions of μ- and m-calpains of pituitary intermediate lobe and distribution of adrenocorticotropin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Expression of PRL of pituitary anterior lobe, expressions of μ- and m-calpains of pituitary intermediate lobe and distribution of adrenocorticotropin. ② Morphological observation of pituitary tissue. RESULTS: All 21 rats were involved in the final analysis. ① Results of immunohistochemical examination: Morphological changes of neoplasia in DES group were strongly positive to PRL, and this suggested that formation of prolactin adenoma was observed in pituitary tissue. As compared with vehicle control group, expression of adrenoeorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was increased in both DES group and DES + vehicle control group. In addition, expressions of μ- and m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe were higher in DES group than that in vehicle control group. Otherwise, expressions of m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe was decreased in DES + vehicle control group, but expression of μ-calpains was still increased. ② Morphological observation of pituitary tissue: Gland tubes were orderly arranged in rats in vehicle control group. Anterior pituitary gland in rats of DES group demonstrated an apparent disappearance of gland tubes and a relatively large-scaled vasculature formation, namely the vascular lake lined by tightly arranged endothelial cells. Local integrated tumor cell arrangements were also detected. In addition, the border between the IL and the anterior lobe was locally blurred. The definite tumor-like changes in pituitary tissues were confirmed in 6 of 7 female Wistar rats in DES group, and one spontaneous occurrence of tumor formation was found in vehicle control group. In DES + vehicle control group, DES withdrawal led to the subtile emergence of gland tube cavity, although tumor-like cells still existed in 4 of 7 rats, suggesting occurrence of the tumor regression due to the withdrawal of DES. CONCLUSION: A long-term application of DES can enhance the expressions of ubiquitours neutral cysteine protease in pituitary intermediate lobe and this suggests that both of them play a key role in release of hormone and formation of prolactin neoplasia through directly promoting PRL expression and release of neighboring pituitary intermediate lobe.