Effects of neuro-immuno-modulation on healing of wound combined with local radiation injury in rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate effects of neuro-immuno-modulation on wound healing by observing changes of cytokines and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones in acute stress reaction in rats with wound and combined local radiation injury. METHODS: Sixty female Wistar rats (weighting 200 ± 20 g) were randomly divided into normal control group, wound group and combined wound-local radiation (CWR) group (25 Gy local radiation post wound), 20 rats in each group. Contents of IL-1ß, IL-6 and IFN-γ and IL-4 in serum were measured and changes of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoid (GC) in serum were analyzed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunologic assay, respectively at different time points post wound and radiation. RESULTS: (1) The level of IFN-γ, one of the Th1 cell cytokines increased significantly at 14 d post CWR, which was markedly higher than that in control group and wound group. However, the level of IL-4, IL-1ß and IL-6, one of the Th2 cell cytokines, did not show obvious change. (2) Ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-γ/IL-4) in wound group and CWR group increased significantly at 7 d after wound and radiation, which suggested that Th1/Th2 balance drifted to Th1 immune response. The ratio of Th1/Th2 in wound group returned to the normal level up to 14 d after the wound and radiation, while the Th1/Th2 ratio in CWR group increased persistently and was much higher than that in control and wound groups. (3) Level of serous ACTH and GC in CWR group increased at 3 d post wound and radiation, and among them, level of GC showed statistically significant increase, which was much higher than that in control and wound groups. CONCLUSION: Level of serous neurohormone GC in rats increased significantly immediately after wound and radiation; while the level of IFN-γ showed significant increase only up to 14 d after wound and radiation, and the Th1/Th2 imbalance sustained till 28 d post wound and radiation. In order to reduce acute damage caused by CWR, organic immune system and nerve system showed up a marked regulate effects simultaneously and mutually. Nonetheless, the excessive stress induced by CWR causes disturbance of immunoregulation, which is one of the key reasons for delayed wound healing in CWR.

[Kinetics and degradation efficiency of benzotriazole in water by ozonation].

Benzotriazole (BTri) is widely used in industrial processes and households as anti-icer and corrosion inhibitors. However, the removal of BTri hasn't been reported yet. The results of an experimental study are presented which provide values for the reaction rate constants between molecular ozone and BTri, and overall reaction rate constants for the degradation of BTri in the pH range of 7-8. The kinetic rate constant for BTri degradation by molecular ozone was calculated to be 20.18 L x (mol x s)(-1) according to the experimental data. The study showed that the reaction between ozone and BTri was influenced by some factors. The degradation rate of BTri increased with the increase of the solution pH value and the water temperature, but changed little in the presence of some anions, such as NO3(-), SO4(2-) and Cl(-). The hydroxyl radical inhibitor tert-Butyl alcohol affected the removal of BTri to some degree, which proved that the ozone molecule was cooperated with the hydroxyl radical to remove BTri in the oxidation process.

[Study on the epidemiology of congenital heart disease in Tibetan ethnic children aged from 4 to 18 living at different altitudes in Qinghai province].

OBJECTIVE: The epidemiological characteristics of congenital heart disease (CHD) among Tibetan children whose age ranged from 4 to 18 at different altitude were investigated in Qinghai province. METHODS: 32 578 Tibetan children living at 2535 m, 3600 m and 4200 m were surveyed with the following 3 steps: prescreened, counterchecked and diagnosed with color Doppler. The entity distribution was then analysed and the age and gender were compared respectively. RESULTS: 235 CHD cases were identified. The total morbidity was 7.21 per thousand. CHD morbidity was rising with the increase of altitude with 5.45 per thousand at 2535 m, 6.80 per thousand at 3600 m and 9.79 per thousand at 4200 m respectively. There were significant static differences between 4200 m and the others with chi2 = 7.002 (P < 0.01) to 2535 m and chi2 = 5.540 (P < 0.05) to 3600 m. However, there was no statistical difference between 2535 m altitude and 3600 m altitude. The morbidity in different age had no statistical difference at 2535 m altitude but statistically increased with the increase of age at 3600 m and 4200 m. The total ratio of 16-18 age was significantly higher than other age periods with chi2 = 10.79 (P < 0.005) to 4-7 age period and with chi2 = 5.60 (P < 0.05) to 8-12 age period. The atrial septal defect (ASD) morbidity rates in three places was 39.1% followed by ventricular septal defect (VSD) with 32.8% and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with 24.7%. However, the constitute of CHD was different in different altitudes that VSD with 43.5% at 2535 m, ASD with 42.8% at 3600 m and PDA with 50.8% at 4200 m which was the highest morbidity. CONCLUSION: Morbidity, constitutes and difference in gender and age were related to altitude.