ABSTRACT
AIM:To investigate the change of intestinal flora distribution and its relationship with interleukin -23(IL-23)/IL-17 axis in ulcerative colitis(UC)patients.METHODS:The fresh fecal samples from 20 patients with ac-tive UC and 20 healthy controls were collected.The distribution of the flora was analyzed by direct smear and traditional bacterial culture.The changes of bacteria were detected by real-time PCR.The hemoglobin,albumin,erythrocyte sedimen-tation,and C-reactive protein levels were tested routinely.Both normal and damaged mucosal tissues of UC patients were examined and obtained by colonoscopy,and further assessed by Mayo scoring,Baron grading and HE staining.The expres-sion of IL-17 and IL-23 was observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.RESULTS:(1)The degree of flora im-balance in active UC patients was higher than that in the healthy controls(P<0.05).(2)The results of aerobic culture showed that the number of Escherichia coli in the UC patients was significantly lower than that in the normal controls(P<0.01),while Enterococcus was increased obviously(P<0.01).The results of anaerobic culture revealed that the numbers of Bacteroidetes,Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacilli in the UC patients were significantly decreased(P<0.01).(3) Quantitative analysis of target bacteria showed that the relative quantification of Escherichia coli,Bacteroidetes,Bifidobacte-rium bifidum and Lactobacilli in the UC patients was significantly lower than that in the normal subjects,and the number of Enterococcus was significantly increased(P<0.01).(4)Compared with control group,no significant change of hemoglo-bin in the UC patients was ovserved,albumin was significantly decreased(P<0.05), but erythrocyte sedimentation and C-reactive protein levels were elevated obviously(P<0.01).(5)The Mayo score, Baron grade, and histopathological score were all increased(P<0.01).(6)High IL-17 and IL-23 expression levels were detected in the UC patients(P<0.01).(7)Correlation analysis showed that the average absorbance values of IL -17 and IL-23 expression were positively correlated with Baron grade(r=0.717,P=0.02;r=0.849,P=0.016)and pathological score(r=0.660, P=0.03;r=0.675,P=0.032).Meanwhile, the average absorbance value of IL-23 expression was negatively correlated with the number of Escherichia coli(r =-0.699, P =0.025), and positively correlated with Enterococcus(r =0.872, P =0.010).Furthermore,the average absorbance value of IL-17 expression was positively correlated with Enterococcus(r=0.764,P=0.046),and both of them were not correlated with other bacteria.CONCLUSION: Obvious flora imbalance exists in active UC patients,changed intestinal microflora is closely related with the degree of inflammation.IL-23/IL-17 axis,as a key factor in the development of UC,may be related to the changes of intestinal microflora.The interaction be-tween intestinal microflora and IL-23/IL-17 axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the biomechanical changes in skin after employing the skin stretch.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Skin samples were took from the test group which was stretched for 7 days and control group without stretch respectively in the end of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 week. The biomechanical index were measured by tensiometer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean destroy stress, breaking load, stretch rate of the test group decreased obviously in the first week (the breaking load was increasing at the beginning) and the three index increased subsequently, they reached the climax during the fourth week and turned to normal subsequently to the level of some higher than control group and normal value in the sixth week. The stiffness of the test group reached the climax at the first week and than decreased gradually to the level of some higher than normal value and control group. The biomechanical changes of te control group was not evident by comparing with the test gropu.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Skin stretch may injured the biomechanical property during the early time and turned to normal soon afterwards. The stiffness of the skin was increased and its elasticity was decreased after performing skin stretch.</p>