Volume 94  ·   Issue 32  ·  2014

Laboratory medicine is one of the rapidly developing subjects in the field of medicine nowadays. With the progress of technology, simple manual operation has been replaced by automation, systematization and scale. However, how to abide by the concept of evidence-based medicine and transform the limited test results into reliable disease diagnosis and treatment information has become a more important work beyond the test itself. High-quality physicians who are proficient in laboratory technology, familiar with the diagnosis and treatment process, good at communication and having the ability to guide medical behavior, that is, laboratory physicians, are responsible for the task of transforming from experimental data providers to clinical collaborators^[1,2,3]。

To retrospectively analyze the ultrasonic diagnosis of extrahepatic obstructive jaundice, discuss their ultrasonographic characteristics, technical procedures and misdiagnostic reasons and improve the diagnostic proficiency and qualitative accuracy of extrahepatic obstructive jaundice.

Retrospective analyses were conducted for the causes, obstructive sites and ultrasonic characteristics of 360 cases of extrahepatic obstructive jaundice confirmed by surgical pathology during 10 years, including choledocholithiasis (n=205), cholangiocarcinoma (n=30), pancreatic head carcinoma (n=44), gall bladder (n=27), ampullary carcinoma (n=24), cholangitis (n=24) and biliary tract roundworm (n=6).

For locating extrahepatic obsrtructive jaundice, the accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis was 93.6% and that of qualitative diagnosis 87.5%.

As an economic, rapid, safe and noninvasive tool, ultrasound is valuable in the diagnosis of extrahepatic obstructive jaundice. It may be applied frequently in non-contraindicated and complication-free patients. However, the diagnostic accuracy is closely correlated with inspector experiences, operative techniques and patient conditions.

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of mammography-guided wire localization plus ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of breast microcalcification and avoid the effects of preoperative excisional biopsy for patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy.

A total of 38 patients with unpalpable lesions, ultrasonic negativity and abnormal mammography received a guide wire under mammography and performed ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of breast microcalcification before preoperative excisional biopsy.

All 38 lesions were successfully located and biopsied for pathological examination. Carcinoma was present in 9 lesions: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (6/38) and intraductal carcinoma with early infiltration (3/38). For 29 benign lesions, there were mastopathies (25/38), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)(3/38) and intraductal papiloma (1/38). Breast microcalcification was detected in all lesions by ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy. The detection rate of breast cancer detected was 30.8% and the diagnostic accuracy 100%.

For patients with unpalpable lesions, ultrasound negativity and abnormal mammography, mammography-guided wire-localization plus ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of breast microcalcification is accurate, safe and feasible. And it may avoid the effects of preoperative excisional biopsy for patients with sentinel node biopsy. The procedure is worthy of wider clinical applications.

To evaluate the feasibility of screening large cohorts of patients with developmental delay or intellectual disability (DD/ID) with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA).

The peripheral blood samples were collected and DNA extracted from 276 patients with DD/ID from June 2012 to December 2013. MLPA was employed, including two distinct kits SALSA P036 and P070 for sub-telomere screening and SALSA P245 for 22 common microdeletion and microduplication syndromes.

MLPA analysis revealed 58 (21%) cases of chromosome aberrations. Among 32 cases of subtelomeric rearrangements on one chromosome, there were deletion (n=25) and duplication (n=7); subtelomeric deletions on p and q arms of one chromosome (n=2); subtelomeric rearrangements on 2 chromosomes, one deletion and other duplication (n=9); subtelomeric rearrangements on 3 chromosomes, 2 duplications and other deletion (n=1). There were 1 case of subtelomeric rearrangements on chromosome X. A total of 11 syndromes were detected among 22 common microdeletion and microduplication syndromes and 6 located at subtelomeric regions.

MLPA is an effective cytogenetic diagnostic tool for detecting chromosomal abnormalities, such as DD/ID.

To explore the relationship between serum homocysteine (Hcy) level and oxidative stress in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Patients undergoing overnight full polysomnography (PSG) were selected from Sleep Disorders Center at First Affiliated Hospital between June 2008 and December 2013. A total of 117 OSAHS patients were recruited and divided into 3 groups of mild (n=41), moderate (n=40) and severe (n=36). And they were compared with the controls (n=33). The PSG variables were recorded and the contents of Hcy, malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) detected after sleep. Serum Hcy was measured by cyclophorase. And MDA and GSH were measured by spectrophotometer.

The concentrations of MDA in severe group were higher than those in the other three groups ((7.3±1.0) vs (4.6±0.9), (5.4±1.3), (6.8±0.7) μmol/L, all P<0.05). The concentrations of GSH in mild and moderate groups were both higher than the controls ((6.5±2.1), (7.5±1.5) vs (4.2±1.4) mg/L, allP<0.05). However there was no significant difference between severe group ((4.6±1.4) mg/L) and controls (P>0.05). The Hcy level in mild and moderate groups were both higher than the controls ((10.3±2.0), (13.3±2.6) vs (8.7±0.7) μmol/L, allP<0.05). However there was no significant difference between severe group ((9.5±1.8) μmol/L) and controls (P>0.05). When severe group was removed, multielement linearity regression analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between Hcy concentration and age, MDA, GSH, apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (P=0.011, 0.005, 0.008, 0.001, 0.016 respectively).

The change of marker levels in oxidative stress is not entirely consistent with the antioxidant levels in OSAHS patients at different stages of disease. The change of Hcy level is proportional to GSH level, but not proportional to severity in OSAHS patients. The mechanism of serum Hcy change may be oxidative stress in OSAHS patients.

To evaluate the clinical values of T-lymphocyte cytokines in renal transplant acute rejection.

A total of 31 recipients with renal transplantation and 15 healthy volunteers from January 2010 to January 2012 were enrolled and divided into acute rejection group (n=11) and stable renal allograft function group (n=20) according to the inclusion criteria. Peripheral blood was collected from the patients before transplantation, 1, 7, 14, 28 day after transplantation and acute rejection onset. Cytometric bead array (CBA) was used to monitor the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin(IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-2. The associations of the changes and levels of cytokines in 3 groups were examined with Pearson correlation analysis.

The levels of IL-17A, TNF, IL-10 and IL-2 in recipients before transplantation were (3.40±1.29), (1.79±0.53), (2.73±0.65)and(1.79±1.02) ng/L respectively and decreased significantly compared to healthy volunteers ((4.52±2.01), (3.36±1.09), (3.91±0.42), (3.12±1.07) ng/L respectively, all P<0.05). However the levels of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 showed no significant changes between two groups (allP>0.05). In acute rejection group after transplantation, the levels of IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 were (9.47±4.75), (5.01±2.23), (12.20±5.79), (6.55±3.45)ng/L respectively and increased significantly compared to the renal allograft function group ((4.39±1.26), (2.90±0.87), (5.68±2.25) and (2.10±0.70) ng/L respectively, allP<0.05); the level of IL-17A was correlated with those of IFN-γ and IL-4 (Pearsonr=0.519, 0.395, both P<0.01), the level of IFN-γ was correlated with those of IL-4 and IL-2 (r=0.276, 0.335, all P<0.05) , the level of TNF was correlated with that of IL-4 (r=0.423, P<0.05) and the level of IL-10 was correlated with that of IL-6 (r=0.361, P<0.05).

Cytokines play an important role in acute rejection of renal transplant. And further understanding of its mechanism may provide experimental and preventive rationales.

To explore the molecular epidemiological features and in vitro susceptibility profile of Corynebacterium striatum strains isolated from different sites of inpatients, and further provide new data and idea for clinicians to better get knowledge of the clinical significance of Corynebacterium striatum.

Fourty-five strains of Corynebacterium striatum isolated from different sites of inpatients from November, 2013 to March, 2014 in Affiliated hospital of Inner Mongolian medical university, and microdilution method was employed to do in vitro antibiotics susceptibility test. Saline-cotton swab method was used to sample the surrounding environmental surfaces for Corynebacterium striatum carrying patients, and suspected colonies were further identified and in vitro drug susceptibility test were performed. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis(PFGE) method was used to do molecular typing for 41 isolates of Corynebacterium striatum.

Fourty-five isolates of Corynebacterium striatum strains were mainly isolated from neurosurgical unit(21 isolates), respiratory unit(8 isolates) and intensive care unit(8 isolates), 39 isolates of which were isolated from lower respiratory tract. The 45 isolates presented an aggregate distribution in the following 3 months, which were December 2013, January 2014 and February 2014.In vitro antibiotics susceptibility test showed that MIC₉₀ for penecillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and clindamycin were 64 μg/ml or higher and the MIC₉₀ for gentamicin, vancomycin and rifampicin were all 0.5 μg/ml. Only one isolate was sensitive to all of the antibiotics tested, except clindamycin. PFGE typing results showed that 41 isolates were divided into 7 genotypes, among which 0002 type and 0006 type were the predominant types and accounted for 63%(26/41) and 22%(9/41), respectively. The isolates from different patients showed high homology, which were isolated from the same unit during the same periods.For surrounding surfaces sampling, Corynebacterium striatum isolating rate was 40% (8/20). The isolates from environmental surfaces and those from the corresponding patients showed identical drug susceptibility profiles.

Corynebacterium striatum isolated from inpatients show multi-drug resistant profile, and different isolates from different patients are highly homologous. Specific units, such as neurosurgery unit, respiratory unit and intensive care unit, should reevaluate the clinical significance of Corynebacterium striatum and its relationship with clinical treatment measures supplemented.

To explore the relationship among brain routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion weight imaging (DWI), and parameters of portal hypertension of cirrhosis patients.

Two hundred and seventy-five patients with cirrhosis underwent routine MRI exams were analyzed retrospectively. Signal intensities of putamen and globus pallidus (GP) were measured on T₁WI to compute globus pallidus index (GPI). In apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images, regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the white matter of parietal lobe, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, caudate head, putamen, GP, and thalamus to get ADC values of each location. In abdomen CT images, liver areas of all slices were drawn to multiply slice thickness to get liver volumes, and maximum portal venous caliber and portosystemic shunting collateral caliber were recorded. Independent-samples t test was performed to explore the significance of GPI between GP hyperintensity group and GP non-hyperintensity group, as well as between cirrhosis groups underwent 1.5T and 3.0T MR exams. One-way ANOVA test was performed to evaluate differences among Child-Pugh classes. The difference between baseline and follow-up MR exams were compared with paired-samples t test. Pearson correlation test was performed to explore the relationships among GPI, ADC values, parameters of portal hypertension, and venous blood ammonia levels. Spearman rank correlation test was performed to explore the relationships among GPI, ADC values, and Child-Pugh classes.

(1)The GPI in GP hyperintensity group was significantly higher than GP non-hyperintensity group (0.128±0.031 vs 0.057±0.021, t= 22.244, P<0.01). The ADC values and venous blood ammonia levels showed no significant difference between two groups. GP hyperintensity group showed larger portal venous and collateral calibers than GP non-hyperintensity group ((18±4)mm vs (17±3)mm, (10±6)mm vs (6±4)mm,t was 2.816 and 5.048 respectively; P was 0.005 and <0.01 respectively). GP hyperintensity group showed less liver volumes than the other group ((1 113±445)ml vs(14 443±698)ml, t=-4.280, P<0.01). Child-Pugh classes showed no significant difference among each other (allP>0.05). (2)The GPI of 1.5T and 3.0T exams showed significant difference between each other (t=-5.15, P<0.01). Short-term follow-up patients showed no significant difference of GPI between two exams (t=-0.271, P=0.788). (3)GPI showed negative correlation with liver volumes of cirrhosis patients (r=-0.240; P<0.01), and GPI positively correlated with portal venous calibers and portosystemic shunting collateral calibers (r=0.296, 0.355; both P<0.01). ADC values of parietal lobe, frontal lobe, caudate head, GP, and occipital lobe positively correlated with GPI (r=0.309, 0.156, 0.174, 0.155, 0.185; all P<0.05). ADC values of parietal lobe positively correlated with portal venous calibers (r= 0.187, P=0.025), ADC values of other locations showed no significant correlation with parameters of portal hypertension (all P>0.05). GPI and thalamus ADC values showed positive correlation with Child-Pugh classes (r=0.195 and 0.217; both P<0.05), ADC values of other locations showed no significant correlation with Child-Pugh classes (allP>0.05).

The GPI of cirrhosis patients was correlated with severity of portal hypertension, and showed significant correlation with ADC values, while ADC values had no relationship with portal hypertension. Besides, venous blood ammonia values and Child-Pugh classes have little effect on GPI and ADC values.

To explore the correlation between submaximal exercise measurements and peak oxygen uptake in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 106 patients with PAH from Affiliated Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University from October 2010 to October 2013. The examinations included routine pulmonary function test, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), 6-minute walk test, right heart catheterization and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. And within the same period, matched 20 healthy subjects without smoking and cardiopulmonary diseases were selected as control group.

Peak oxygen uptake (P-VO₂ ), anaerobic threshold (AT), oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and oxygen uptake efficiency plateau (OUEP) were significantly lower in patients with PAH than control group ((841±257) vs (1 682±284) ml/min, (661±171) vs (1 041±243) ml/min, 1.1±0.4 vs 2.3±0.4, 25.8±5.2 vs 35.5±4.0, respectively) (all P<0.001). And the predicted parametric values (%pred) were also lower in PAH group than control group (allP<0.001). While the lowest ventilation (VE)/CO₂ output (VCO₂) (L-VE/VCO₂) and VE/VCO₂ slope were significantly higher in PAH group than control group (50.5±15.9 vs 30.5±3.0 and 57.2±23.2 vs 25.6±2.8, both P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed, except for VE/VCO₂ slope%pred, AT%pred, L-VE/VCO₂%pred, OUES%pred and OUEP%pred were correlated with P-VO₂ (all P<0.001). According to multiple linear regression analysis, only AT%pred and OUES%pred were the independent predictors of P-VO₂ (β=0.394, 0.384, both P<0.001) and OUES%pred might be better than AT%pred (the adjusted β=0.674). When AT%pred<58.0% or OUES%pred<65.0%, exercise capacity in PAH declined obviously with the sensitivity was 92.3% and 96.2% and the specificity 81.2% and 75.5% respectively.

Exercise capacity in patients with PAH is significantly lower than healthy subjects. OUES%pred and AT%pred may be used as an independent predictor of exercise capacity. And OUES%pred may be more powerful.

To explore the prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in congenital heart disease (CHD) and analyze its independent risk factors.

During May 2007 to December 2008, a total of 704 consecutive CHD patients initially admitted into Fuwai Hospital were recruited. Their baseline data were collected and right heart catheterization (RHC) was performed. Those with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) during RHC were diagnosed as PAH. Multiple Logistic regression was performed to analyze the independent risk factors of PAH.

There were 319 males and 385 females with a median age of 5 years. The causes included atrial septal defect (n=185), ventricular septal defect (VSD, n=452), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, n=48) and a combinations of the above lesions (n=19). And 280 (39.8%) CHD patients had PAH. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, systemic artery systolic blood pressure, VSD, PDA and combined lesions were independent risk factors of PAH in CHD (age: OR=1.017, 95%CI: 1.001-1.033, P=0.040; systemic artery systolic blood pressure: OR=0.959, 95%CI: 0.944-0.975, P<0.001; VSD:OR=4.402, 95%CI: 2.615-7.411, P<0.001; PDA:OR=6.417, 95%CI: 3.079-13.373, P<0.001; combined lesions:OR=10.513, 95%CI: 3.641-30.355, P<0.001).

PAH is a common complication of CHD. Age, peripheral artery systolic blood pressure and type of lesion are independent risk factors of PAH in CHD.

To explore the levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisone (CORT) and ultrastructural abnormalities in hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal specimens and potential effects of Xuebijing injection in septic rats.

Sepsis was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into control group (n=10), sham-operated group (n=10), saline treatment group (NS, 4 ml/kg, n=10), Xuebijing injection treatment group (XBJ, 4 ml/kg, n=10). The histological abnormalities associated with sepsis were examined in hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenals. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to detect the levels of CRH in hypothalamic tissue and the plasma levels of ACTH and CORT.

Compared with normal control or sham group, the levels of CRH in hypothalamus tissue of CLP group and plasma levels of ACTH and CORT increased in early stage of sepsis. In NS group, the plasma CORT concentration ((30.66±1.55) ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in normal control group ((7.63±0.56) ng/ml, P<0.01) and sham group ((11.85±0.87) ng/ml,P<0.01). In XBJ group, the plasma CORT concentration ((22.13±1.49) ng/ml) was significantly lower than that in NS group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between normal control and sham groups (P>0.05). In NS group, the plasma concentration of ATCH ((26.26±1.63) pg/ml) was significantly higher than that in normal control group ((8.84±1.39) pg/ml,P<0.01) and sham group ((11.43±0.47) pg/ml,P<0.01). In XBJ group, the plasma concentration of ATCH ((22.13±1.49) ng/ml) was significantly lower than that in NS group (P<0.01). No significant difference existed between normal control and sham groups (P>0.05). In NS group, the level of CRH in hypothalamus tissue ((101.92±6.61) ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in normal control group ((61.65±6.05) ng/ml,P<0.05) and sham group ((66.65±4.04) ng/ml,P<0.05). In XBJ group, the concentration of CRH in hypothalamus tissue ((84.90±2.54) ng/ml) was significantly lower than that in NS group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between normal control and sham groups (P>0.05). The ultrastructures of hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal changed. In CLP group, the ultrastructure of hypothalamus was as follows: rough endoplasmic reticulum expanded. There were degranulation and Golgi complex swelling. A large number of endocrine granules could be seen in ATCH cells in pituitary and a depletion of adrenal lipid droplets.

Xuebijing injection can lessen the excessive activated status of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

To explore the silencing glypican-3 (GPC-3) gene transcription by specific small hairpin RNA (shRNA) on the inhibition of hepatoma cells with high metastatic potentiality and hepatoma growth.

After MHCC-97H cells were transfected with higher effective GPC-3-shRNA, GPC-3 mRNA was analyzed by multiple FG-RT-PCR or protein by Western blot. Cell proliferation was detected by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and sulforhodamine B assay, its migratory metastasis and invasiveness by wound healing or transwell chamber system and cell apoptosis was detected by Caspase-Glo^®3/7 Luminescence assay. Nude mice were subcutaneously injected with stable MHCC-97H cells for observing the forming time or volume of xenograft tumors. And the expressions of GPC-3, β-catenin, p-GSK3β and CyclinD1 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

After shRNA₁ transfection with high efficiency (>80%), the expression of GPC-3 was down-regulated to 75.6% (t=15.473, P<0.001) at mRNA level in accordance with its protein, inhibiting cell proliferation (71.1%,t=10.468, P<0.001)notably, decreasing its migration (80.1%,t=32.697, P<0.001) and invasiveness (69.1%,t=39.647, P<0.001). β-catenin was down-regulated (67.7%,t=18.4, P<0.001) and Gli₁ increased (53.5%, t=-4.824, P=0.008) with its protein. The average forming time of subcutaneous tumors was 11.2 days (d) in the shRNA group and it was significantly longer (P<0.01) than that in the control (5.3 d) or shRNA-neg (5.5 d) group. And the average volume (65.5 mm³) of tumors with decreased GPC-3, β-catenin, p-GSK3β, and cyclinD1 expressions in the shRNA group was significantly smaller (P<0.01) than that in the shRNA-neg (365.7 mm³) or control (404.8 mm³) group, respectively.

Specific shRNA might intervene effectively the GPC-3 gene transcription and inhibit invasion and tumor growth. Thus GPC-3 may become a potential molecular target for hepatoma gene therapy.

To explore the effects of receptor interacting protein (RIP)140 gene over-expression upon the migration and proliferation of neuroblastoma cells in vitro.

The N2a RIP140 over-expression model (N2a-rip140)was constructed by lipofection and validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. The migration and proliferation capabilities were compared between N2a-rip140 and its parents by Transwell chamber and CCK-8.

The N2a RIP140 over-expression model(N2a-rip140)was successfully constructed. Compared to N2a group, the RIP140 mRNA and protein expression levels of N2a-rip140 were remarkably up-regulated. Transwell assay showed that the over-expression of RIP140 inhibited N2a cell migration ((70±20) vs (5±4) cells, P<0.05). CCK-8 assay showed that the proliferation rates of N2a group at 24, 48, 72 h were 1.567±0.107, 3.018±0.212 and 4.112±0.221 respectively. And those of N2a-rip140 group were 1.561±0.281, 2.232±0.235 and 4.025±0.217 respectively. No significant difference existed in proliferation rates at different timepoints among N2a, N2a-M and N2a-rip140 groups (allP>0.05).

RIP140 over-expression effectively inhibits N2a cell migration. However it has no significant effect on the proliferation of N2a cells.

To explore the regulatory effects of luteolin on airway inflammation in asthmatic rats.

A total of 48 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of control, asthmatic and luteolin(n=16 each). The rat model of bronchial asthma was established in asthmatic and luteolin groups. The model was induced by intraperitoneally injecting a mixture of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide at Day 1 and 8. After two weeks, aomization excitation of normal saline (containing 1% ovalbumin) was induced thrice weekly. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. In control group, the mixture of ovalbumin, aluminum hydroxide and normal saline containing 1% ovalbumin was replaced by normal saline. At 30 min after aomization excitation, normal saline was given to rats in control and asthmatic groups, while 1 mg/kg luteolin was given intraperitoneally to luteolin group. The inflammatory cell number and level of interleukin-4 (IL-4) were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The histopathological changes were observed under light microscope. The activities of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARγ) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) in pulmonary tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

The bronchial wall thickness of asthma group, along with smooth muscle thickness ((93.3±7.4), (34.9±2.3) μm) was more than that of control ((61.9±8.2), (19.3±1.5) μm) and luteolin ((76.6±6.7), (25.4±4.6) μm) groups (all P<0.05). The total cell count ((5.61±0.63)×10⁹/L), neutrophil count ((1.83±0.09)×10⁹/L), eosinophil count ((0.59±0.09)×10⁹/L) and level of IL-4 ((78.23±12.73) pg/ml) in BALF of asthmatic group were markedly higher than those of control ((1.53±0.31)×10⁹/L, (0.45±0.21)×10⁹/L, (0.07±0.03)×10⁹/L and (21.21±2.53)pg/ml) and luteolin ((3.24±0.25)×10⁹/L, (1.54±0.10)×10⁹/L, (0.33±0.05)×10⁹/L and (43.24±8.65) pg/ml) groups (all P<0.05). The results of semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analysis showed that the p38 protein level in control group (0.143±0.017) and luteolin group (0.251±0.021) was significantly less than that in asthmatic group (0.362±0.008) (bothP<0.01). As compared with asthmatic group, the expression of PPARγ protein markedly increased (0.247±0.034) in control (0.331±0.056) and luteolin (0.442±0.031) groups (allP<0.05). The level of p38 mRNA in asthmatic group (0.718±0.064) was significantly higher than that of control (0.312±0.052) and luteolin (0.426±0.067) groups (allP<0.01). However, the PPARγ mRNA level in asthmatic group (0.266±0.036) was much less than that in control (0.573±0.042) and luteolin (0.687±0.054) groups (allP<0.01).

The anti-inflammatory effects of luteolin may be associated with the regulation of PPARγ expression and p38MAPK signaling pathway in asthmatic rats.

To explore the roles of P2Y12 receptor (P2Y12R) in bone cancer pain by observing the changes of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6) after intrathecal injection (i.t.) of P2Y12R antagonist MRS2395.

Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 each): sham group (group S), MRS2395 group (group M), cancer group (group A) and cancer + MRS2395 group (group MA). Groups S and M received an injection of 10 μl Hank's solution into left tibia medullar cavity while groups A and MA had an injection of Walker 256 mammary cancer cells (10 μl, 2×10⁷ cells/ml) into the same place. At Day 9-12 post-inoculation, groups S and A received an injection of saline (0.9%, 15 μl, i. t.) while groups M and MA had MRS2395 (400 pmol/μl, 15 μl, i. t.). Intrathecal catheterization between L3 and L4 was performed immediately after inoculating tumor cells by inserting a small tube into vertebral space. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds were measured on left hind paws before and during 10-minute intervals after dosing. Spinal cords (L4-L6 segments) were removed for determining the expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at Day 12 after drug delivery.

At 20 min post-injection, mechanical withdrawal thresholds of groups S, M, A and MA were (34.2±5.8), (34.4±5.7), (21.0±2.0) and (25.4±2.3) g respectively at Day 9 post-inoculation (F=18.679, P<0.01); mechanical withdrawal thresholds of group A obviously decreased versus groups S and M; mechanical withdrawal thresholds in group MA increased obviously versus group A. The expressions of IL-1β in groups S, M, A and MA were (74.0±18.6), (98.4 ±17.3), (253.5±66.4) and (146.3±22.3) pg/ml at Day 12 post-inoculation (F=18.221, P<0.01); compared with groups S and M, the expression of IL-1β in group A showed a significant up-regulation. Likewise, the expressions of IL-6 were (377.4±65.8), (331.6±67.9), (856.1±53.4) and (596.1±34.9) pg/ml (F=70.880, P<0.01) respectively in groups S, M, A and MA; compared with groups S and M, the expression of IL-6 increased obviously in group A. There were significant decreases of IL-1β and IL-6 in group MA versus group A.

An intrathecal injection of MRS2395 may alleviate hyperalgesia and inhibit the up-regulated expression of spinal cord inflammatory cytokines in bone cancer rats. And P2Y12 receptor may be involved in the formation of bone cancer pain through regulating the expressions of IL-1β and IL-6.

To study the influence of hypergravity exposure after 30-days simulated weightlessness on the expression of chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in lingual mucosa of rhesus macaque.

Twenty-three male rhesus monkeys were divided according to the random number method into one control group (A, n=3) and three experimental groups, including the weightlessness group (B, n=3), the hypergravity group (C, n=3) and hypergravity exposure after 30-days simulated weightlessness group (D, n=14), which was further divided into four subgroups according to the values of overload as: + 11 Gx/270s group (D1, n=3), + 13 Gx/230s group (D2, n=4) and + 15 Gx/200s group (D3, n=4) and + 13 Gx/230s with 9-days recovery group (D4, n=3). Histopathological changes of lingual mucosa were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the expressions of CCL20 and CCR6 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR).

Histological observation showed that no significant histopathological changes were found in the lingual mucosa in all experimental groups of the animals, however, there were more infiltrated lymphocyte and neutrophils in the experimental groups. The immunohistochemical scores of CCL20 in group C, group D2 and group D3 were 1.30±0.11, 1.68±0.62 and 2.26±1.00, respectively, significantly higher than that in A group (0.47±0.12, P<0.05). The immunohistochemical scores of CCR6 expression in those three groups were 4.40±1.48, 6.67±2.04 and 7.02±2.11, respectively, also remarkably higher than that in A group (1.33±0.66,P<0.05). As far as the mRNA expression was concerned, the expressions of CCL20 and CCR6 had similar change trend with their protein expressions.

Hypergravity exposure after 30-days simulated weightlessness will not lead to significant pathological changes in lingual mucosa, but can induce the expression of chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6.

terahertz radiation (THz), also known as terahertz wave, is a type of wave with a frequency ranging from 0.1 to 10 THz (1 THz =10¹²Hz) of electromagnetic waves, this band is between microwave and infrared. THz is known as the "terahertz gap" due to the long-term lack of corresponding emission and detection technology. Since the 1980s, with the development of ultra-fast laser technology and semiconductor material technology, THz generation and detection technology have made substantial progress. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science and biomedicine. Based on the basic principle of THz, the research progress of THz in biomedical field, especially in urinary system diseases in recent years is reviewed, and the technological development and clinical application expansion are prospected.

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of peripheral artery disease (PAD). With the accumulation of clinical experience and the development of endovascular devices, more and more studies have shown that percutaneous endovascular angioplasty (PTA) or stenting (PTAS) can be applied to patients with Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) Class 2 (TASC Ⅱ) A/B and TASC Ⅱ C/D who cannot tolerate open surgery, with excellent short-term symptom relief, high surgical success rate, low perioperative complication rate and good patency rate^[1,2]。

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of gallbladder is rare in clinical practice, while pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma secondary to gallbladder is rarely reported. The clinical data and diagnosis and treatment of one patient are retrospectively analyzed as follows.