sp. nov., a new species of jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae) from Guizhou Province, China.

Background: Simon, 1902 is a relatively large genus of jumping spider family Salticidae and currently contains 42 valid species that are mainly distributed in South East Asia, 11 of which are recorded from China.

New Information: A new spider species of the genus from Guiyang City in southwest China, is described under the name of Yang, Gu & Yu, sp. nov.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in induced sputum is correlated with MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance and formation of emphysema in COPD patients.

Background: The development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is modulated by the symmetry of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the counter-acting tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We investigated the interaction between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression and the imbalance of MMP-9/TIMP-1 in the induced sputum of stable COPD patients.

Methods: Sixty-six stable COPD patients were enrolled and the induced sputum samples were gathered.

Erythromycin attenuates metalloprotease/anti-metalloprotease imbalance in cigarette smoke-induced emphysema in rats via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-κB activation pathway.

The present study investigated whether erythromycin (ERY) reduces cigarette smoke (CS)-induced emphysema in rats and aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of ERY, which may identify potential treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Furthermore, the current study focused on the potential effects on the imbalance between matrix metalloprotease (MMP) and anti-MMP activity, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) signaling pathway. Wistar rats were divided into the following three groups (n=12 each): control (ERY vehicle only, without any CS exposure), CS (animals were exposed to CS for 12 weeks) and CS + ERY (animals were exposed to CS for 12 weeks and received 100 mg/kg/day ERY).