Domicile-related carbon monoxide poisoning in cold months and its relation with climatic factors.

Background: Many studies have identified strong correlations between winter months and acute, unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence pattern of acute domicile-related CO poisoning in Beijing and its relation with climatic factors.

Methods: Data on CO poisoning were collected from the emergency medical service system during August 1, 2005, to July 31, 2007, in Beijing.

The seasonality of acute coronary syndrome and its relations with climatic parameters.

Background: Most research on the seasonality of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been were reported from hospital-based data. We aimed to investigate the seasonal distribution of ACS in Beijing and to elucidate the relations between ACS occurrence and climatic parameters in a prehospital setting.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic prehospital medical records from the Beijing's emergency medical service system spanning August 1, 2005, to July 31, 2007.

Neurotensin stimulates IL-8 expression in human colonic epithelial cells through Rho GTPase-mediated NF-kappa B pathways.

Neurotensin (NT), a neuropeptide highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, participates in the pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation. We recently showed that NT stimulates interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression in NCM460 nontransformed human colonic epithelial cells via both mitogen-activating protein kinase (MAPK)- and NF-kappaB-dependent pathways. However, the molecular mechanism by which NT induces expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-8 has not been investigated.

Substance P-stimulated interleukin-8 expression in human colonic epithelial cells involves Rho family small GTPases.

Interaction of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) and its neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation. SP is known to stimulate production of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in the U-373-MG human astrocytoma cell line via activation of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, respectively. However, the signalling mechanisms by which SP-NK-1R interaction induces NF-kappaB activation and IL-8 expression are still not clear.