Expression and significance of toll-like receptors 7 and 8 in brain and lung tissues of death cases caused by EV71 infection / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the significance of toll-like receptors (TLR) -7 and -8 in the pathogenesis of infection caused by Enterovirus type 71 (EV71) through measuring the expression of TLR7 and TLR8 in brain and lung tissues from the death cases caused by EV71 infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nine children who died of EV71 infection (EV71 group) were selected as study subjects, and 7 children who died of accidents or non-infectious diseases were used as the control group. Brain and lung tissues from the death cases in both groups at autopsy were collected, and immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of TLR7 and TLR8 in lung and brain tissues in both groups. Integrated optical density (IOD) was applied for semi-quantitative analysis of the expression of TLR7 and TLR8.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of TLR7 and TLR8 in lung and brain tissues was strongly positive in the EV71 group, and the IOD values in the EV71 group were also significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of TLR7 and TLR8 between lung and brain tissues in the EV71 group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TLR7 and TLR8 are highly expressed in lung and brain tissues from the patients who die of severe EV71 infection, suggesting that TLR7 and TLR8 may be involved in the pathogenesis of brain and lung damages caused by severe EV71 infection.</p>

Influence of electroacupuncture on indocyanine green metabolism in liver: display of in vivo fluorescence imaging / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on indocyanine green (ICG) metabolism in the liver and the action mechanism of acupuncture for hepatic regulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Kunming mice were randomly divided into an EA group and a control group, 20 cases in each one. Combined with classical hepatic metabolism test of ICG, after tail vein injection of ICG, twenty mice were treated with EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 20 min. The ICG fluorescence intensity and distribution in the liver were observed with animal in vivo fluorescence imaging apparatus during 20 min of EA and 60 min of needle withdrawal. Twenty mice, taken as control group, were treated with ICG injection and no EA. The differences of fluorescence intensity and distribution in both groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) There was blocking and gathered fluorescent sign in both groups when ICG was injected immediately. With the extension of observation time, the fluorescence brightness and area were increased until 30 min of injection. This was in accordance with known metabolism activities of ICG in the liver. (2) At 10 min and 20 min of EA and after needle withdrawal, compared with the control group, the fluorescence intensity in the liver of the EA group was weaker and the distribution area was smaller. (3) According to quantitative statistics of fluorescence intensity, at each time point of treatment, the value in the control group was higher than that in the EA group, which appeared regularly all along. As for the total mean difference of ICG fluorescence intensity at all time points, there was statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA could reduce fluorescence intensity and lasting time of ICG, indicating that EA accelerates metabolic process of ICG in the liver. Also it is feasible to apply animal in vivo fluorescence imaging technology to the principle research of acupuncture effect.</p>

Expression of Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 in bronchial epithelial cell regulated by tumor necrosis factor-α / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore whether TNF-α involves in the modulation of Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1) expression in bronchial epithelial cells.Methods The bronchial epithelial cell lines 16HBE cells were stimulated with different concentration (0.00,0.05,0.50,5.00,20.00 μg/L) of TNF-α for 48 hours,and CysLT1 mRNA in 16HBE cells was measured by reverse transcription(RT)-PCR.CysLT1 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results 16HBE cells did not express CysLT1,after the cells were treated with TNF-α,obvious expression of CysLT1 were detected by immunohistochemistry.The weak CysLT1 mRNA expression was observed by RT-PCR in 16HBE cells,and after the cells were treated with TNF-α for 48 hours,CysLT1 mRNA expression were upregulated.When the concentrations of TNF-α were 0.00,0.05,0.50,5.00,and 20.00 μg/L respectively,the relative intensities of CysLT1 mRNA/β-actin were 0.048,0.105,0.177,0.182,0.495,respectively.Conclusions TNF-α can upregulate CysLT1 mRNA expression in 16HBE ceils in a dose-dependent manner.When infected by virus,respiratory tract produces abundant TNF-α.The TNF-α can upregulate the expression of CysLT1 in epithelial cells,enhance inflammation reaction in respiratory tract.This may explain partially the mechanism of exacerbation of asthma induced by respiratory tract infection.

Pilot application of optical in vivo imaging on acupuncture research / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>As a new technique of biomedical imaging, the optical in vivo imaging has been used in many research fields of biological processes, such as analyzing gene expression pattern, observing action of drug target. For extending its application field, this technique is initially used to investigate the effect of acupuncture in this study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven SPF mice were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (4 cases) and a control group (3 cases). Fluorescent labeling Cy7 (Tf-Cy7) and Doxorubicin (Dox) were injected into the caudal vein of the nude mice, respectively. With the.stabilized distribution of Tf-Cy7 and Dox in vivo, "Yaoyangguan" (GV 3) point was acupunctured in the acupuncture group. The animals in the control group were not acupunctured. Then, the fluorescent irradiance of Tf-Cy7 and Dox was displayed by the optical in vivo imaging, the effect of acupuncture was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) After acupuncture, the fluorescent intensity of Tf-Cy7 started to decrease in the blood-brain barrier and heart, but tended to increase in the liver and spleen, in which the highest intensity of Tf-Cy7 was demonstrated at 50 min during the acupuncture. It was obviously different from that of the control group. (2) The fluorescent intensity of Dox tended to increase in the brain and lung after 20 min of acupuncture, and reached the highest concentration at 30 min.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can influence the action of Tf-Cy7 targeting and distribution of Dox, which is clearly showed with the optical in vivo imaging. Thus, this technique provides a new approach for the acupuncture and meridian research.</p>

Influence of Qingpeng plaster on blood vessels and mast cells in skin tissue of channel points of nude mice / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the numbers of blood vessels and mast cells, which is relative to blood microcirculation in skin, during Qingpeng plaster (ZANG medicine) being applied to the skin surface of nude mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Fifteen healthy adult nude mice were divided into Qingpeng plaster group and the control group. The sites of skin tissues stuck with the plaster or with control plaster were selected after 7 days treated, and then all the slices stained and observed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The numbers of the vessels and the mast cells increased in the dermal tissue of Qingpeng paster group. Although there were a few dilated blood vessels in the control group, but the numbers of the vessels and the mast cells were obviously less than those of the Qingpeng plaster group. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between tow groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Qingpeng plaster can cause obvious vascular dilatation and promot mast cells aggregation in the Qingpeng plaster stuck parts of the skin tissue.</p>

Study on effect of electroacupuncture on gastric ischemia-reperfusion by laser Doppler blood perfusion imaging / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on gastric blood perfusion and search for a study method reflecting changes of blood perfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On the basis of establishing a new gastric ischemia-reperfusion model which was made by ligature of gastric right artery, EA was given at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and the gastric blood perfusion images were displayed by a laser Doppler blood perfusion imager (LDPI), and effects of EA on gastric blood perfusion were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The image of the gastric ischemia-reperfusion is clear. The ischemic degree of the stomach in the EA group was lower than the control group within 30 min of ischemia, and recovery of blood flow after perfusion in the EA group was better than the control group; (2) at 25 min of ligature, there was a significant difference in changes of blood perfusion between the EA group [(-0.50 +/- 0.18) PU] and the control group [(-0.90 +/- 0.16) PU], P < 0.05.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA can improve and promote gastric blood supply in the gastric ischemia-reperfusion model, which can be used for acupuncture and moxibustion experimental study.</p>

Whole brain irradiation for non-small-cell lung cancer with brain metastasis / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the time of whole brain irradiation and the prognostic factors for non-small lung cancer patients with brain metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 1996 to December 2003, 147 patients with brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer received whole brain irradiation. The patients were divided into two groups: with or without symptoms caused by brain metastasis, each group was then divided into two sub-groups, early whole brain irradiation group (the interval between the diagnosis of brain metastasis and the brain irradiation < or = one month) and late group ( the interval > one month ). Univariate and multivariate analysis (Cox regression) as well as Kaplan-Meier method in SPSS software package 11.5 was used to analyze the data of the 147 patients including 72 with brain metastasis symptom and 75 without.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median survival time (MS) of patients with or without extracranial metastasis was 9.9 months and 11.3 months (P = 0.0002). Multivariate analysis indicated that extracranial metastasis was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.0004). For 72 patients with brain metastasis symptom, the MS of the patients with and without extracranial metastasis was 9.3 months and 11.3 months (P = 0.0036). The MS of patients with early and late whole brain irradiation was 11.4 months and 9.2 months (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that extracranial metastasis, the interval between the diagnosis of brain metastasis and the whole brain irradiation were independent prognostic factors. However, for 75 patients without brain metastasis symptom, the MS difference of those with early or late whole brain irradiation was not statistically significant (P = 0.1643).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The extracranial metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastasis is an independent prognostic factors. Early whole brain irradiation may improve the survival for those with brain metastasis symptoms.</p>