Immunological responses of septic rats to combination therapy with thymosin α1 and vitamin C.

This study investigated the effect of combined thymosin α1 and vitamin C (Tα1 + VitC) on the immunological responses of septic rats. Five groups were designed. The septic model was established by the cecal ligation puncture (CLP) method. The sham group did not undergo CLP, the model group was given normal saline solution, the Tα1 group was given Tα1 (200 µg/kg), the VitC group was given VitC (200 mg/kg), and the Tα1 + VitC group was given Tα1 + VitC. Specimens for immunological analyses were collected at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h posttreatment in each group except for the sham group (only at 48 h). CD4 + CD25 + T cells in the peripheral blood and dendritic cell (DC) proportions in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß1), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) were measured by ELISA. CD4 + CD25 + T cells and OX62 + DCs levels significantly increased in the model group and decreased in the Tα1 and/or VitC treatment groups. Similarly, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-ß1, and NF-κB significantly increased in the model group and decreased in the Tα1, VitC, and Tα1 + VitC groups, indicating that combined Tα1 and VitC therapy may help regulate the immunological state of patients with sepsis, thereby improving prognosis.

China's growing contribution to global intracranial aneurysm research (1991-2012): a bibliometric study.

BACKGROUND: We sought to analyze the growing worldwide trends of intracranial aneurysm research, investigate China's recent contribution, and compare the contributions of mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. METHODS: Global and China intracranial aneurysm-related publications were retrieved from the Web of Science database from 1991 to 2012. Excel 2007, Matlab, and Thomson Data Analyzer (TDA) software were used to analyze the search results for number of publications, cited frequency, h-index, and organization contributions. RESULTS: 16468 global papers were identified that were cited 273500 times until 2013-08-15. The United States accounted for 31.497% of the articles, 58.64% of the citations, and the highest h-index (127). Japan and Germany followed in frequency. China's articles ranked eighth (third in 2012) in total number, with most of the contributions occurring since 2002 (91.33%). China was at the early stage of the logic growth curve (exponential growth), with the citation frequency and h-index per year increasing. The quality of the publications was low. The main research centers were located in Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The main Asian funding body was the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The number of publications and frequency of citations of papers from mainland China was greater than that of Taiwan or Hong Kong. CONCLUSION: Global intracranial aneurysm research has been developing swiftly since 1991, with the United States making the largest contribution. Research in China started later, in 2002. Since then, China has increased its rate of publication, and became the third largest contributor by 2012.