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2011 Year 26 Volume 1 Issue
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) associated lung involvement, concentrating on clinical characteristics, pathological findings of lung involvements, response to treatment, and prognosis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the characters of the clinical manifestations, thin-section CT and pathological findings of CSS. The study involved 16 patients. Clinical data were obtained by chart review. All patients underwent transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). Six of them underwent surgical lung biopsy as well. Results The patients included 7 men and 9 women, aged from 14 to 61 years (median, 47.5 years). Extrathoracic organs involved included nervous system (7/16) and skin (5/16). Respiratory symptoms included cough (12/16), exertional dyspnea (11/16), hemoptysis (4/16), and chest pain (3/16). CT findings included bilateral ground-glass opacities (12/16), bilateral patchy opacities (12/16), and centrilobular nodules (6/16). The pathological findings of TBLB demonstrated increased eosinophils (3/16), vasculitis (3/16), and interstitial pneumonia (16/16). The pathological findings of surgical lung biopsy of 6 cases showed necrotizing vasculitis in 4 cases, capillaries in 5, eosinophilic pneumonia in 3, granulomas in 2, and airway abnormalities in 3. All patients improved in symptoms after therapy during the study period (range, 3 to 51 months; median, 15 months). Conclusions Asthma may be present in CSS patient when there is bronchial involvement. Ground-glass opacities and consolidation seen on high-resolution CT reflect the presence of eosinophilic pneumonia, vasculitis, and pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage. TBLB has significant limitations for the diagnosis of CSS. Early diagnosis and therapy can result in satisfactory prognosis.Keywords：vasculitis;asthma;Churg-Strauss syndrome;granulomatosis;hypereosinophilia4|4739|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To explore the changes in plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) and circadian rhythm of blood pressure among hypertensive patients with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) before and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or surgical treatment. Methods A total of 180 essential hypertension patients were enrolled in our study. The determination of plasma Ang II concentration, ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), and polysomnography (PSG) monitoring were performed before and 3 months after CPAP or surgical treatment. Results Patients were classified into three groups by their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): essential hypertension group (EH group, n=72; AHI<5), essential hypertension with mild SAS group (EH+mild SAS group, n=60, 5≤AHI<20), and essential hypertension with moderate and severe SAS group (EH+moderate-severe SAS group, n=48, AHI≥20). The concentrations of plasma AngⅡ in the above three groups were 13.42±3.27, 16.17±3.82, and 18.73±4.05 ng/mL respectively before treatment, and AngⅡ concentration in EH patients combined with SAS was significantly higher than that in EH group (all P<0.05). After treatment the values in the latter two groups significantly decreased to 14.67±2.56 and 15.03±3.41 ng/mL respectively (P<0.05). The incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in EH patients was 31.9%, and those in hypertensive patients with mild SAS and moderate-severe SAS were 51.7% and 58.3%, respectively before treatment. The incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in the EH patients with mild SAS was significantly higher than that of patients with EH alone (P<0.05). After CPAP treatment or surgery, the incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in the two SAS groups was significantly decreased to 38.3% and 39.6%, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusions Ang II might play a role in blood pressure variability in patients with obstructive SAS. CPAP or surgical treatment can improve blood pressure disorder and decrease plasma Ang II level in patients with obstructive SAS.Keywords：hypertension;sleep apnea syndrome;circadian rhythm of blood pressure;angiotensin II;continuous positiveairway pressure;surgery4|3607|4Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To assess the severity and reversibility of the chronic toxicity of a novel recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSFa) in rats and the dose-effect relationship. Methods A total of 100 Sprague-Dawley rats (equal numbers of male and female) were randomly divided into five groups (20 rats in each group): four groups were treated with rhG-CSFa at 500, 100, 10, 1 µg/kg, respectively, and one group was treated with vehicle only to serve as the control. The rats were received subcutaneous injections of rhG-CSFa or vehicle daily for 13 weeks. During the course of the chronic toxicity study, the physical status, body weight, and food consumption were monitored. Half of the rats in each group (n=10) were sacrificed after the last rhG-CSFa administration, and the other half were sacrificed at five weeks after the last rhG-CSFa administration. Urinalyses, blood biochemistry, hematological analysis, histopathological examination, and immunological tests were performed for each of the rats. Results The hematological analyses revealed that the mean white blood cells count, neutrophils count, and neutrophils percentage were increased in male rats at the dose of 10 µg/kg or higher, and these were related with the biological activity of rhG-CSFa. Some small abnormalities were observed in the spleen of a few rats when used highest dose (500 µg/kg, a dosage of 200 folds higher than the normal clinical dosage), but these abnormalities were recovered within 5-week recovery period. No other rhG-CSFa-related abnormalities were observed in this chronic toxicity study. Conclusion No significant toxicity and immunogenicity are observed with rhG-CSFa administration to rats in the chronic toxicity studies.Keywords：chronic toxicity;Sprague-Dawleyrat;novel recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor4|3353|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the mechanism of immune hyporesponsiveness induced by donor-antigen- unloaded recipient-derived immature dendritic cell (imDC) of liver grafts in rats. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (donor) and forty male Wistar rats (recipient) were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, cyclosporine A (CsA), mature DC (mDC), and imDC groups respectively, with 10 donor rats and 10 recipient rats in each group. Recipient rats in CsA group were treated with 10 mg•kg-1•d-1 CsA starting day 2 after the transplantation. Recipients in the mDC or imDC groups were given Wistar rat derived mDCs (1×106/rat) or imDCs (1×106/rat) via dorsal vein of the penis respectively 1 day before the transplantation. In each group, 5 recipients were kept for determination of survival time and the other 5 rats were executed at day 10 after transplantation. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), IL-4, and IL-10 levels. Liver tissue was harvested for HE staining and acute rejection evaluation. Expression levels of Fas-L/Fas in the grafts were detected by immunohistochemical staining; and Western blot was used to detect the expression level of Scurfin. Results The survival time of CsA and imDC groups was significantly longer than that of control and mDC groups (all P<0.05). The levels of serum ALT and TBIL in the control group (2072.20±217.93 IU/L and 147.42±22.02 µmol/L) and mDC group (2117.00±285.13 IU/L and 141.58±20.82 µmol/L) were significantly higher than those in the CsA group (59.68±13.48 IU/L and 15.40±2.13 µmol/L) or imDC group (50.80±9.63 IU/L and 14.44±3.49 µmol/L) (all P<0.05). In the CsA and imDC groups, the levels of IL-2 (22.52±3.75 pg/mL and 22.12±3.90 pg/mL) and IFN-γ (309.20±25.19 pg/mL and 321.00±21.64 pg/mL) were significantly lower, but the levels of IL-4 (297.60±25.07 pg/mL and 277.00±22.47 pg/mL) and IL-10 (1226.00±140.49 pg/mL and 1423.00±106.39 pg/mL) were higher than those of the control (IL-2: 147.78±12.80 pg/mL, IFN-γ: 1758.60±106.22 pg/mL, IL-4: 17.40±4.77 pg/mL, IL-10: 81.00± 9.47 pg/mL) and mDC groups (IL-2: 142.34±9.29 pg/mL, IFN-γ: 1835.00±82.63 pg/mL, IL-4: 15.60± 3.96 pg/mL, IL-10: 68.80±11.23 pg/mL) (all P<0.01). The expression level of Scurfin protein on CD4+ CD25+ T cells of the imDC group (1.34±0.29) was significantly higher than that in the control (0.72±0.13), CsA (0.37±0.11), and mDC groups (0.78±0.17) (all P<0.05). Conclusion Donor-antigen-unloaded recipient-derived imDC is an effective treatment in inducing immune hyporesponsiveness through induction of T cell apoptosis, shift in Thl/Th2 balance, and prolifer- ation of regulatory T cell.Keywords：rat;liver transplantation;rejection;immature dendritic cell;immune4|3527|1Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To test the ability of isoflurane-induced preconditioning against oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) injury in vitro. Methods Rat hippocampal slices were exposed to 1 volume percentage (vol%), 2vol% or 3vol% isoflurane respectively for 20 minutes under normoxic conditions (95% O2/5% CO2) once or twice (12 slices in each group) before OGD, with 15-minute washout after each exposure. During OGD experiments, hippocampus slices were bathed with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) lacking glucose and perfused with 95% N2 and 5% CO2 for 14 minutes, followed by a 30-minute reperfusion in normal ACSF. The CA1 population spike (PS) was measured and used to quantify the degree of neuronal function recovery after OGD. To assess the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in isoflurane preconditioning, U0126, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2), and SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, were used before two periods of 3vol% isoflurane exposure. Results The degree of neuronal function recovery of hippocampal slices exposed to 1vol%, 2vol%, or 3vol% isoflurane once was 41.88%±9.23%, 55.05%±11.02%, or 63.18%±10.82% respectively. Moreover, neuronal function recovery of hippocampal slices exposed to 1vol%, 2vol%, or 3vol% isoflurane twice was 53.75%±12.04%, 63.50%±11.06%, or 76.25%±12.25%, respectively. Isoflurane preconditioning increased the neuronal function recovery in a dose-dependent manner. U0126 blocked the preconditioning induced by dual exposure to 3vol% isoflurane (6.13%±1.56%, P<0.01) and ERK1/2 activities. Conclusions Isoflurane is capable of inducing preconditioning in hippocampal slices in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, and dual exposure to isoflurane with a lower concentration is more effective in triggering preconditioning than a single exposure. Isoflurane-induced neuroprotection might be involved with ERK1/2 activities.Keywords：electrophysiology;hippocampal slice;isoflurane;preconditioning;oxygen and glucose deprivation;mitogen-activatedprotein kinase4|3482|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To observe the influence of Shenqing Recipe (SQR), a kind of Traditional Chinese Medicine, on the morphology and quantity of colonic interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis, and to investigate the possible mechanism of SQR in regulating intestinal dynamics. Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal control, model Ⅰ, model Ⅱ, mesalazine, and high-dose, and low-dose SQR groups with 10 rats in each group. TNBS (10 mg) dissolved in 50% ethanol was instilled into the lumen of the rat colon of the latter five groups to induce colitis. On the 4th day after administration of TNBS, each treatment group was administered one of the following formulations by enteroclysis gavage once a day for 7 days: 600 mg•kg-1•d-1 mesalazine, 2.4 g•kg-1•d-1 SQR, and 1.2 g•kg-1•d-1 SQR. Model Ⅱ rats received normal saline solution. After 7 days colonic samples were collected. While the colonic samples of model Ⅰ group were collected on the 3rd day after TNBS administered. Ultrastructure of ICC in the damaged colonic tissues was observed with transmission electron microscope. Expression of c-kit protein in colonic tissue was determined by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. Results The ultrastructure of colonic ICC in the rat model of TNBS-induced colitis showed a severe injury, and administration of SQR or mesalazine reduced the severity of injury. Similarly, the expression of c-kit protein of TNBS-induced colitis rat model was significantly decreased compared with the normal control group (P<0.05). Treatment with SQR or mesalazine significantly increased the expression of c-kit protein compared with the administration of control formulations (P<0.05), especially the high-dose SQR group. Conclusion SQR could alleviate and repair the injured ICC, and improve its quantity, which might be involved in regulating intestinal motility.Keywords：Shenqing Recipe;trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid;colitis;c-kit;interstitial4|3512|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of graded hypothermia on neuropathologic alterations of neonatal rat brain after exposed to hypoxic-ischemic insult at 37°C, 33°C, 31°C, and 28°C, respectively, and to observe the effect of hypothermia on 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) expression after hypoxic-ischemic insult. Methods Seven days old Wistar rats were subjected to unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by exposure to hypoxia in 8% oxygen for 2 hours at 37°C, 33°C, 31°C, and 28°C, respectively. The brain temperature was monitored indirectly by inserting a mini-thermocouple probe into the temporal muscle during hypoxia. After hypoxia-ischemia their mortality was assessed. Neuronal damage was assessed with HE staining 72 hours after hypoxia. HSP72 expression at 0.5, 24, and 72 hours of recovery was immunohistochemically assessed using a monoclonal antibody to HSP72. Results Hypoxia-ischemia caused 10.5% (2/19) of mortality in rat of 37°C group, but no death occurred in 33°C, 31°C or 28°C groups. HE staining showed neuropathologic damage was extensive in rats exposed to hypoxia-ischemia at 37°C (more than 80.0%). The incidence of severe brain damage was significantly decreased in 33°C (53.3%) and 31°C groups (44.4%), and no histologic injury was seen in the 28°C group of rats. Expression of HSP72 was manifest and persistent in the rat brain of 37°C group, but minimum in the rat brain of 28°C group. Conclusion Mild and moderate hypothermia might prevent cerebral visible neuropathologic damage associated with hypoxic-ischemic injury by decreasing stress response.Keywords：hypoxia-ischemia;brain;rat;hypothermia;heat shockprotein 724|3259|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To construct a morphine tolerance model in primarily cultured striatal neurons, and screen the differentially expressed genes in this model using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH).Methods Sbtracted cDNA libraries were constructed using SSH from normal primarily cultured striatal neurons and long-term morphine treated striatal neurons (10-5 mol/L for 72 hours). To check reliability of the cell culture model, RT-PCR was performed to detect the cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) mRNA expression. The subtracted clones were prescreened by PCR. The clones containing inserted fragments from forward libraries were sequenced and submitted to GenBank for homology analysis. And the expression levels of genes of interest were confirmed by RT-PCR. Results CREB mRNA expression showed a significant increase in morphine treated striatal neurons (62.85?1.98) compared with normal striatal neurons (28.43?1.46, P<0.01). Thirty-six clones containing inserted fragments were randomly chosen for sequence analysis. And the 36 clones showed homology with 19 known genes and 2 novel genes. The expression of 2 novel genes, mitochondrial carrier homolog 1 (Mtch1; 96.81?2.04 vs. 44.20?1.31, P<0.01) and thymoma viral proto-oncogene 1 (Akt1; 122.10?2.17 vs. 50.11?2.01, P<0.01), showed a significant increase in morphine-treated striatal neurons compared with normal striatal neurons. Conclusions A reliable differential cDNA library of striatal neurons treated with long-term morphine is constructed. Mtch1 and Akt1 might be the candidate genes for the development of morphine tolerance.Keywords：neuron;morphine tolerance;suppression subtractive hybridization4|3810|0Updated：2024-04-10
• Original Article •
- Abstract：INSULIN secretion was traditionally measured with biochemical and immunological methods such as enzyme linked immunosorbant ?assay and radioimmunoassay. However, these methods can only tell the amount of insulin secreted; they give no information about the secretion process or mechanism of exocytosis. In recent years, an imaging technique known as total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy has been employed to study insulin secretion.1-4 This imaging technique can explore events taking place near or on live cell membrane, such as secretory granule movement, exocytosis, vesicle content release, and membrane fusion.5-10 In the present paper, we applied TIRF microscopy to the observation of insulin exocytosis by the pancreatic β cell line Ins-1.Keywords：total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy;exocytosis;insulin4|4616|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Echocardiography is an important monitoring technique to provide information regarding cardiac size and contractility after mitral valve replacement. LV dimensions and ejection fraction recovered to normal values 6 months after mitral valve replacement with preservation of subvalvular apparatus. Our results confirm that mitral valve replacement surgery is able to restore and maintain normal cardiac and valve function.Keywords：echocardiography;mitral valve replacement;cardiac chamber size4|3112|0Updated：2024-04-10
• Short Communications •
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